MacArthur lacked substance Dec 8, 1941. Kimmel and Short were both court martialed (both later exhonerated), while Mac was just as derilict, if not more so, but kept his command and promoted later on. Compare the ignominious post-1941 fates of Kimmel and Short, and the celebrated post-1941 career of Douglas MacArthur. Although Washington provided MacArthur with warnings of a possible Japanese attack that were at least as clear as those given the commanders in Hawaii, he was no better prepared for a Japanese assault. MacArthur's forces were devastated by Japanese raids much as those under the command of Kimmel and Short. But instead of ignominy and early forced retirement, MacArthur -- in contrast to Kimmel and Short -- was promoted, and went on to an acclaimed wartime career that secured a legendary place in history.
The surrender of US forces in the Phillipines were the worst in US history. Even after learning of Pearl Harbor, he was caught with his planes on the ground. He had time to send his B-17's to Formosa to bomb the airfields the eventual attackers would leave from, but he never pulled the trigger. Instead, HIS bombers were destroyed on the ground, and not a single jap was intercepted by his P-40's.
Along with the 20,000+ that surrendered on Corrigidor, consider the thousands that died retaking the Phillipine Is.
Obviously, once Pearl Harbor happened, MacArthur and the Army there were s.o.l. and not going to stop the Japanese. But with air cover, lost on Dec. 8, they could have held out much longer. Maybe long enough to get resupplied. Regardless, that was his job!!
On a different tangent, Eisenhower and MacArthur both achieved great victories in WWII, but Nimitz achieved his while facing superior forces. Even after Midway the US navy was outnumbered and outgunned. Of all the generals considered here, how many gained their great victories while facing superior forces?
