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The Question of MacArthur's Reputation: Côte De Châtillon, October 14-16, 1918, by Robert H. Ferrell
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Perhaps the best known of all American five-star generals, Douglas MacArthur established his military reputation at the hill of Châtillon during the great battle of the Meuse-Argonne in World War I. The thirty-eight-year-old brigadier general in command of the Eighty-fourth Infantry Brigade boasted to a fellow general that he had inspired his troops by example, taking the hill and breaking the main German line in northern France. Ever since, historical accounts and biographies have celebrated his leadership and bravery. That MacArthur’s forces prevailed is beyond question, as military historians have shown. Yet in all the annals of the Great War there is no detailed description of what happened at Châtillon, nor of what MacArthur had to do with it. Robert Ferrell examines those events and comes to a startling conclusion—one that will revise how we view this archetypal American hero. After sifting through the inexact accounts of the battle found in regimental and divisional histories—and through the many biographies of MacArthur that assert his leadership at Châtillon but do not describe it—Ferrell has gone into Army records to determine if what MacArthur claimed was true. In a moment-by-moment account of the battle, he reconstructs the movements of troops and the decisions of officers to show in detail how MacArthur’s subordinates were the true heroes.Ferrell describes how the taking of Côte de Châtillon could have been a disaster had the Eighty-fourth Brigade followed MacArthur's original plan, a bayonet charge at night. Wiser heads prevailed, and the attack of the Iowa and Alabama regiments was a great success. Ferrell has completed a chapter in the history of World War I that has stood unfinished for years, showing in masterly fashion how MacArthur exaggerated his reputation at Châtillon. The Question of MacArthur’s Reputation will reward historians seeking to fill gaps in the record, engage readers who enjoy descriptions of battle, and startle all who take their heroes for granted.
- Sales Rank: #2199274 in Books
- Brand: Brand: University of Missouri
- Published on: 2008-11-30
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.00" h x .60" w x 6.00" l, .75 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 128 pages
- Used Book in Good Condition
Most helpful customer reviews
5 of 17 people found the following review helpful.
An Honest Appraisal of our Army's Cesar
By Dr. Watson
Robert Ferrell presents a well-documented presentation of the one little-known and un-deserved military decoration given to MacArthur that he would use to embellish his resume and serve as a springboard for more rank and career mobility.
MacArthur is revealed once again (see "December 8, 1941: MacArthur's Pearl Harbor," Texas A&M University Military History Series, 87, by William H. Bartsch) as the inept leader he really was. Although Bartsch's book is more forthright than "MacArthur's Reputation," Ferrell does an adequate job presenting the picture of MacArthur's leadership from the rear, where, by the way, he was sending messages back to HQ that were not only inaccurate about the course of the battle, but false and filled with excuse-making.
MacArthur was the prima donna who couldn't take a stand against failed tactical planning by inept higher general staff officers. He was a "company man" who didn't want to rock the boat, as did General Robert A. Brown. By remaining silent in the face of an order that made no sense, MacArthur saved face...and his career. Unlike Colonel Conrad S. Babcock, MacArthur didn't do the right thing...he simply did nothing.
MacArthur, who was absent and in the rear, when action by his regiments took place, and took the credit for the success of Cote de Chatillion, which credit, really belonged to others of lesser rank.
After receiving the undeserved award following this World War I battle, MacArthur's vanity would reach new heights before, during, and after Pearl Harbor.
14 of 20 people found the following review helpful.
Poorly done, ably refuted by others
By Clement Finn
After serving us a rather pretentious title (it seems to imply MacArthur's entire reputation is in jeopardy, but the author is only focusing on a single incident from World War One) the opening shot of Mr. Ferrell's book is stated thus:
" General Douglas MacArthur made his reputation from an action toward the end of the World War on October 14-16, 1918: the taking of the Cote de Chatillon...." This of course is quite inaccurate, ignoring as it does MacArthur's other medals and decorations in his nearly one and one half year tour of duty in the Europe of World War I. MacArthur's reputation rested on more than just one battle. From this opening misfire, Mr. Ferrell goes on to accuse MacArthur of claiming all the credit for this victory (Cote de Chatillon) which is also simply wrong. In his own memoirs MacArthur gave credit to his subordinates whom he described as "indispensible". Simply put, MacArthur never claimed full credit for the Cote de Chatillon. That was a small part of his contribution to WWI. No one doubts MacArthur's flaws, they are quite evident in more comprehensive books such as William Manchester's brilliant "American Caesar". A single incident in life does not make or unmake any individual. We should of course, also remember also D. Clayton James multivolume "Years of MacArthur" which Mr. Manchester seemed to think superior to his own. Manchester once asked James for s short appraisal of MacArthur. James replied :"Hated him on Tuesday, loved him on Wednesday". And so it is... The following is from Col. Cole Kingseed's excellent review at the AUSA site. It points out not some of the foregoing issues and still other problems with this book:
"Reviewed by
COL Cole C. Kingseed
USA Ret.
"No American commander has generated more controversy than General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. He was a man of remarkable contradictions with a fragile ego where matters of personal honor were concerned. His World War II air commander, GEN George C. Kenney, may have penned the most accurate description of the controversial general when he stated, "Very few people really know Douglas MacArthur. Those who do, or think they do, either admire him or dislike him. They are never neutral on the subject." Robert H. Ferrell, professor emeritus at Indiana University and author of many books on American foreign relations, presidential history and military history, clearly falls in the camp of those who view Mac-Arthur in a less than favorable light.
In the past, those critical of Mac-Arthur have generally focused on his generalship in either World War II or Korea. World War I, in which Mac-Arthur emerged as one of the most highly decorated officers in the American Expeditionary Forces, has been generally off-limits. Until now, that is.
In The Question of MacArthur's Reputation, Ferrell examines then-BG MacArthur's leadership during a critical phase of the Meuse-Argonne offensive, when MacArthur's 84th Brigade of the 42nd (Rainbow) Division captured a group of hills called the Côte de Châtillon, the pivot of the Hindenburg Line.
In an effort to "set it all out," Ferrell ponders, "How did MacArthur end up with a reputation as a leader of men in battle, without actually leading his men in battle?" In sifting through the evidence, Ferrell concludes that MacArthur greatly exaggerated his role in the victory and that the true heroes of the battle were MacArthur's subordinates, chiefly battalion commanders Majors Lloyd D. Ross and Ravee Norris. Indeed, Ferrell asserts that the attack would have been an unmitigated disaster had the brigade followed MacArthur's original plan and launched a bayonet attack at night.
Where Ferrell's analysis fails upon more careful scrutiny is in his flawed premise and lack of familiarity with how military operations are actually conducted. MacArthur's reputation as "the greatest frontline general of the war," to use Secretary of War Newton Baker's term, was not defined by three days of combat in the Argonne Forest, but over the entire period of American involvement on the battlefields of Europe. Prior to the action in mid-October 1918, MacArthur served as chief of staff of the 42nd Division and as a brigade commander on the Western Front, receiving four Silver Stars and the Distinguished Service Cross. Côte de Châtillon merely added to his legend as a superb battlefield commander.
When the 42nd Division's field order to seize Côte de Châtillon was published, it called for MacArthur's brigade to do so in three hours. For not protesting this "dramatically silly" order from higher headquarters, Ferrell's MacArthur is either "incompetent" or "no leader of men." When subordinates make adjustments to the brigade's attack order, Ferrell's MacArthur does not decide--he merely "acquiesces." The reader gets the general impression that the 84th Brigade's regimental and battalion commanders make all the tactical decisions and the brigade commander merely goes along for the ride.
Ferrell also chides MacArthur for directing the operation from his command post 3 miles behind the front lines instead of leading the forward battalions in the assault. Ferrell opines that during several stages of the battle, MacArthur's presence with the forward elements might have eliminated confusion--far better to leave such decisions to the tactical commanders who routinely control forces in combat without the benefit of 20/20 hindsight.
Finally, Ferrell tackles "the question of GEN MacArthur's immodesty, his willingness to take credit" for the brigade's success.
As historian William Manchester notes in American Caesar, "All MacArthur's life, he was given to superlatives, and facts usually modified them," but Ferrell's allegation that MacArthur accepted all the credit for the capture of Châtillon simply does not ring true. In his own self-serving Reminiscences, MacArthur cites both Norris and Ross as indispensable to victory. Though his division and corps commanders recommended MacArthur for promotion and receipt of the Medal of Honor, MacArthur neither claimed that he was solely responsible for the brigade's success nor did he deny recognition to his junior officers.
If Ferrell's intention is to challenge the conventions of history, he has certainly succeeded. This brief monograph, less than 80 pages of text, calls into question MacArthur's tactical acumen and his heroism under fire in World War I.
One wonders how MacArthur received two Distinguished Service Crosses, one Distinguished Service Medal and a record seven Silver Stars in less than 18 months in France. You will not find the answer in MacArthur's Reputation."
-COL Cole C. Kingseed, U.S. Army Retired
24 of 36 people found the following review helpful.
Absolutely Distorts the Record
By Sam Bloberg
Robert H. Ferrell's account and analysis of General Douglas MacArthur during the major engagment at Cote de Chatillon is what he claimed MacArthur was guilty of, distorting the record and exaggerating his own role. I am a military historian with the Department of the Army, a World War I historian and published on the Meuse-Argonne offensive and especially the 42nd Division's role in the battle. It is hard to accept a sweeping revision of facts from a historian that does not understand the profession of arms and military history. It is just another example how the study of military history and scholarship has been lost in present-day academia. As a 25 year veteran of the Army and retired Lt. Col. I was amazed at Dr. Ferrell's lack of military scholarship. One does not have to a veteran to write military history but it sure helps. As for the scholarship of this work, I find that he began with a thesis and then went out to prove it collecting facts to support it. He completely ignored how MacArthur as a colonel and the division CofS went out on night patrols himself many, many times to ascertain and gather intelligence so "he" could brief the commanders of the division, brigades and regiments on the up coming operations. This was usually a task for a captain at best, but MacArthur often did it himself and he was awarded seven, count them, Silver Stars (star citations) for valor! Ferrell's weak premise that a night bayonet attack was a foolish tactic is not based on what a commander's true assessment should be. Yes, LTC Bare of the Alabama 167th Infantry was probably right in convincing MacArthur not to do it, but for other reasons more grounded reasons such as fatigue and lack of fire-support, other than the reasons that Ferrell outlines. After all, during the battle of Yorktown in 1781, a night bayonet charge took redoubts 9 and 10 on Washington's order. I understand the nature and lethality of modern warfare compared to Brown Bess musket balls, but surprise, leadership and what the enemy would never suspect often carried the day. What is amazing in the anaylsis is that MacArthur is nearly absent during most of the chapter(s) dealing with background and presentation, then suddenly MacArthur is bashed during the conclusion. The other matter is, there is a hidden unlying assumption in Ferrell's judgment that a brigade commander should be up front, leading platoons and companies as a junior officer. This is the same charge others have leveled against MacArthur as "dugout Doug" in the Philippines in 1942, a trite slogan that soldiers passed on because they did not understand the dynamics of the role and responsibility of an army commander. The slogan was amplified after the war as a political weapon against MacArthur if one traces it properly. At some point I thought Ferrell would call him a coward. Where does an army commander or a brigade commander post himself in a battle? There is no doubt that many have taken offense at MacArthur's incredible arrogance, his role in Korea and defiance to Truman, which his relief was justified; but one cannot assess the sum total of historical figure of six decades of military service in three wars based one incident or his human failings. I found this book, based on the title alone, even though I read it completely, just another attempt to soil the name and reputation of great American soldier. In graduate school I saw the same bitter hatred and animus for MacArthur because who he was and what he represented. Shame!
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