Operation KING II-The Liberation of Leyte Part 1 with John McManus-Episode 331

[@leemathews1354]

I had the opportunity to meet Seth at the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum; he did not disappoint and was very receptive to me interrupting his day. I greatly appreciate the time he took to chat with me.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

It was nice to meet you.

[@crisovejanegra3517]

@@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar I I would like to have the honor of meeting both of them, Seth and Captain Totti (and Jon Parshall too!). This podcast is pure gold. Thanks guys!

[@leemathews1354]

Wish I was in town (Central FL) to meet Bill at the Memorial Day event but will be overseas.

[@SaundersE5]

That’s nice to hear, Seth seems a great guy!

[@terryemery7839]

Five million views should be fifty million views in my opinion. The level of detail, research, and nuance, is master level information. I have not seen any other ytube channels on the Pacific theatre come close. The fact that Seth and Bill knew and interviewed some of the men involved is an invaluable resource. Guests are top notch. Bill’s experiences in the Navy are insightful. Well done gentlemen.

[@dwaynelthompson]

Ya should be more , I think I watched at least five hundred thousand. Lol

[@flparkermdpc]

Should be way more whatever the number. It means a lot of people don't know how great America once was and how high the bar has been set by a great and unselfish people. They are missing out on heritage capital that was paid up front. The size and cost of this liberation is staggering and is not forgotten by the Philippine people to this day. They remain some of the best and most grateful Americans, even though they are independent now. We have a legacy to protect and preserve. Bill and Seth, and Jon , and many distinguished and enthusiastic guests are doing their best. Semper, Semper..Never forget.

[@jamesthompson8133]

Yep I listen to them every day while I’m working. I’m a contractor and a friend of mine said if he was ever on a game show and needed a question answered about WW2 he would call me.

[@christianlim772]

As a Filipino-American, I’ve been following you since the beginning and I’ve been waiting for you to get here. The last couple of episodes on Formosa and Leyte Gulf and now on the ground have been excellent and had information I had never seen or heard before. While MacArthur’s pledge to return was unilateral and exceeded his authority in 1942, it is a promise kept and one that does keep Filipinos on the side of the US. In contrast, the legacy of broken promises at the end of the war in Europe continue to plague us to the present.

[@NVRAMboi]

Thank you for your perspective. I'd never really considered his return in that context. If it were possible to grieve over Poland's WWII story and suffering, I would. If the Polish today hated and mistrusted us due to WWII - I couldn't blame them. War stinks.

[@blockmasterscott]

My Filipino grandmother and her brother were kids when the Americans retook the Philippines. She literally had tears in her eyes so many times when talking about the Americans coming back, and her brother flew an American flag in front of his house until the day he died. I remember her telling me of Americans giving her chocolate during the comeback, and her father being given food and medical supplies. I’m married into a Filipino family, and have been to the Philippines many, many times, and it’s just amazing how much they’ve embraced American life. I don’t like Doug for a lot of reasons, but he was spot on when it came to the Philippines, and rebuilding post war Japan too. I was there in the 80a several times, and I always received warmth there too from people that were around in WW2. I was there in both countries talking to WW2 vets in both countries. So I know that they loved Doug.

[@flparkermdpc]

Can't blame 'em. He as much said it was HIS crusade. As much as Admiral King made excellent arguments to bypass and go through Formosa, the price in American lives would have been higher, and Roosevelt, ever the politician with his finger on the people's pulse, he died before he was sure America's war tolerance wouldn't run out. The Japanese were hoping to the end that we would fold. We didn't, not a little because of MacArthur's constant lobbying.

[@TehSlaw]

​@@blockmasterscottdude I'm so glad you made this comment you said almost exactly what I've been wanting to say about MacArthur and his effort in the Philippines and rebuilding Japan. If you look in the comment section of this video you can find my comment on it

[@kensvay4561]

But his command in Korea was a disaster.

[@dougm5341]

Fellas, it’s been a personally bad day for me, but your drop gives me an escape, even for 90 minutes. For that, I thank you….

[@flparkermdpc]

Sorry about your day. 😮

[@VanessaGarcia-bj7qd]

Glad your day got better from watching this video. Im a caregiver and I watched this with my client Donald and he really enjoyed it too:)

[@allenvandenraadt2614]

I've been waiting for this one. My grandfather was in the 34th Infantry Regiment in the Philippines from late 1944 through 1945. He had many stories to tell about his time there; mostly very harrowing stories. He passed in December 2018. Miss you and thank you for your service, Grampy! Thank you, gentlemen!

[@jeffburrell7648]

The liberation of the Philippines is a prime example of the tension between politics and purely military strategy. Even sans MacArthur, I think the liberation of the Philippines was the correct decision from a political standpoint. Bill is correct that it was a diversion of scarce resources from the true strategic goal of defeating Japan, but the Philippines had been a US protectorate and was in the process of moving to a true sovereign status before the start of the war. As such, I think that both Filipinos and many in the US had an expectation that we would liberate them at the earliest opportunity. The optics of the liberation are much better than Peleliu and better than any of the other island captures in the hopping campaign. Also, there was a defensible military reason for liberating the Philippines though it certainly was not as strong as the invasion of Taiwan.

[@Bob.W.]

Agreed.

[@flparkermdpc]

Excellent comment. That said my Friends and associates of Phillipine descent in medical practice over the past 45 years, have been exemplary and patriotic Americans. And they remember now down to the third generation since WW2.

[@jeffburrell7648]

@flparkermdpc I served with several. Filipinos in the USAF and I heartily agree with your comment about them

[@josepetersen7112]

The other options were kind of nonsense. The idea of opening up a mainland front was a little silly when the war could go straight to Japan.

[@jeffreymartin8448]

I could listen to McManus for hours. Seth and Bill do an excellent job adding to the energy. The Rolling Stones calls riffing like this the Ancient Art of Basket Weaving.

[@JohnnySmithWhite-wd4ey]

My dad took part in the invasion of Leyte. He was part of the third wave ashore.

[@therealuncleowen2588]

Thanks for sharing. Thanks to your father for his service.

[@JohnnySmithWhite-wd4ey]

​@@therealuncleowen2588He passed away 7 years ago at age 93. I wish he could have seen The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War. He said that the ETO got all the glory.

[@flparkermdpc]

Until now, he had a point.

[@peterl3282]

Constructive suggestion: You guys should do an episode or two on the British war in the Pacific. You can cover Singapore and the Prince of Wales/Repulse action. You might even use this as a spingboard to cover India and SE Asia. Merrill's Marauders? Vinegar Joe Stilwell? The Burma Road?

[@MichaelHanes-d7l]

I would just say about the religious overtones of MacArthurs radio address to the Philippines, you have to keep in mind that the Philippines is a devoutly Catholic country.

[@robertstack2144]

I understood that MacArthur LED the first wave out of the landing craft. I saw it on newsreels in the late 40s at movies theaters. He had his pipe in his mouth and was wearing sunglasses.

[@kensvay4561]

Not first wave. The man was not stupid.

[@Sshooter444]

My great uncle was there, 7th Inf Div.

[@carlhull8276]

With a great big Army and a few Marines; McArthur recaptures the Philippines!!

[@theeducatedgrunt2087]

5 Million Views Outstanding!! As usual a great podcast... You guys are my early morning coffee buddies... My Last duty Assignment was with A/2/27th Inf. 25th ID at Schofield Barracks before i retired in 2011.. My Father was with the 7th ID in Korea.. He was part of the occupation forces in Japan prior to serving in korea. Lots of old ww2 Ncos he served with in the late 1940s early 1950s.

[@carstenwagner3355]

Gentlemen, thank you for this magnificent podcast and for sharing your insights and knowledge with us, your audience.

[@flparkermdpc]

As John McManus recited the names of the Army Divisions and their accomplishments and the excellence of their men, I thank God they were spared the enormous Pelilieu like experience that would have occurred if invasion of the Japanese mainland had been necessary. Those men that were Greatest Generation were, in the main, granted long lives and nation building that ensued on the heels of a Long Greatest Depression and the greatest loss of life worldwide in WW2, the greatest man caused disaster. The greatest influenza of 1918-21 is so far the worst of epidemic catastrophe. That said, it saddened me greatly when Seth got to Captain Francis Wai's POSTHUMOUS MOH citation, delayed for years. Originally, he was awarded a ?Silver Star? For THAT action. That's not even the second place medal for valor. That man would have been a college president at LEAST. It seemed too much good luck to have TWO MOH survivors from one day, one action, I guess. The fact is that this level of combat intensity occurs rarely, and are concentrated at times, in places where massive amounts of stuff is hitting the fans (troops).

[@g24thinf]

The 24th was scheduled to be among the 1st divisions to land at Tokyo Bay if the invasion would have occured

[@markyehlen243]

When Captain Todi said that he needed scuba equipment to deal with the rain during a monsoon season in the Philippines, he wasn't exaggerating. I was an Aviation Maintenance Duty Officer assigned to a P-3 squadron deployed to NAS Cubi Point on Luzon during the rainy season of 1984. It rained 210 inches in July (that is not a typo). Our sister squadron deployed to Cubi Point a year later, and it rained 36 inches during a 24 hour period when they were there. The rain was so heavy at times during that deluge, that they couldn't get the turbo-prop engines to start on the aircraft. I haven't seen a rainy day since I left the Philippines, and I haven't seen any bad weather since I left NAS Keflavik, Iceland.

[@scottcohen1776]

I always wake up early on Tuesdays to watch your episodes.

[@philb7789]

Every Tuesday when I’m getting ready for work I down load the latest episode.

[@flparkermdpc]

I cannot tell a lie. But it does get me engaged in the day when I do get up.

[@toms6213]

Thankyou Seth, Bill, and John.

[@petestorz172]

Re Filipino participation in the liberation, US plans pre-WW2 were for the Philippines to become independent in 1946, so besides the brutality of Japanese occupation/exploitation, they also had that goal in prospect (and it did happen).

[@petestorz172]

MacArthur's speech was over-the-top to modern US ears, but was it attuned to the culture and WW2 historical context of the Philippines?

[@emilrydstrm3944]

Good question!

[@1098exp]

I was born on 19 Oct 1944. That same week on the other side of the world near Aachen GR, my uncle was severely wounded. He was serving as a half track driver in 3AD. He came home, spent a year learning to walk and passed at 97 still carrying German steel in his back.

[@xflyingtiger]

Thanks for another great show. My uncle was in the 11th airborne, and I think he went to the Philippines in December of 1944. He died in the fighting around Manila in February of 45. Seeing the Japanese buildup in an attempt to hold Leyte, and the simultaneous addition of troops by the Americans (replacements I would suspect), I suspect my uncle was part of a replacement force. This helps me understand what was happening there.

[@flparkermdpc]

We are reminded of him now, and sorrow for his loss and the cut short life. The true cost of war is so poorly understood, by all of us who have been spared the experience of combat.

[@SamAlley-l9j]

Thank you Bill Seth and John.

[@charleslangston1661]

A veteran told me they said nothing would be alive near the beach. First thing he saw when the ramp dropped was a burro walking down the beach.

[@simpleliving1132]

😅

[@flparkermdpc]

SOOO Pfunny😅😊 !

[@Paul-talk]

I passed through O'Hare the other day and had a chance to contemplate the Wild Cat on display there - a moving experience! But wow, what a strange and chunky looking little machine! To think those guys went to war in those things... I have an uncle who flew one in the Atlantic hunting subs...I helped publish a book about his experiences... Thanks for your podcast: its my Tuesday event!

[@michaelcoe9824]

MacArthur... What a flog! Signed, an Australian.

[@ColinFreeman-kh9us]

Well said mate

[@timinla64]

Not sure what a flog is, but am sure you’re right. Signed, an American.

[@ColinFreeman-kh9us]

@@timinla64 lmfao…… ahh the common language of men from all cultures it may not be understood in part but we all know what it means. The guy was a total dick.

[@RodneyGraves]

Dougout Doug...

[@joebombero1]

A lot of people believe this today but good to remember Malaysia and Singapore had more than 3X the number of defending troops, plus battleships. The Philippines held out three more months with much less and after the surrender was filled with effective guerilla forces and intelligence gathering operations that continued throughout the occupation. None of this were present in Malaysia.

[@billisaacs702]

That speech rivaled anything Churchill ever did. Whatever his failings, and they all had them, McArthur was a man of and for his times. Thanks for quoting it in full.

[@tonybanke3560]

The speech was great but his actions were far below his rank.

[@warrenklein7817]

I think Seth has a good balance on MacArthur, great but flawed. Capt Bill doesn't see it that way, yet. In New Guinea, MacArthur's tactics accounted for 200k + Japanese dead from disease, starvation and kia out of 600k+, neutralising the survivors to 15 August 1945 at a cost of 7k Australians and 5k Americans kia. And yes, the Australian diggers said nasty things about him, but they survived because of him.

[@billisaacs702]

@@warrenklein7817 To be fair to Commodore Bill, he in fact does have the resume to judge Mac and I listen to his arguments but, at the end of the day it comes down to the "great man" take vs. the "system of war" take. There is room for both. There are times when a system of war needs the spark of the Great Man. Patton. MacArthur. I think America and really, the west is very lucky to have both. The Great Man seems to come along when the system needs him and vice versa. It's a real blessing and often the bill is paid in blood. Commodore Bill would take issue with the need for the bill in the first place, but that is at the core of the difference in the two views.

[@GrahamCStrouse]

@@warrenklein7817I tend to lean more towards Bill’s POV re. McArthur, tbh. McArthur was physically courageous, certainly, and I don’t doubt that he felt that America owed the people of the Philippines a debt. I expect he also felt some secret shame and a a twinge or two of guilt over some of his old command decisions. I don’t think Gen. MacArthur was a bad man & he could be truly inspiring. That said, Mac’s colossal ego caused so much unnecessary death and suffering. (I would like to add, however, that one of Mac’s greatest accomplishments, his shaping of Japan’s Post-War order and the creation of a new and surprisingly liberal Constitution for the Japanese people probably doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.)

[@therealuncleowen2588]

In fairness to MacArthur, the Philippines are largely a Catholic nation, and therefore the religious references may have resonated with them. Did MacArthur really mean himself when he referred to God? Subconsciously, at least, yes. Also, great speech.

[@Heathen22]

He was a vatican puppet. A tool for the vatican's crusade. The vatican is the enemy/NWO

[@v.mwilliams1101]

Excellent as usual. You think you are 'long winded' ... I find it fly's by and I am always left wishing for more. Thanks to John for joining in, always interesting. Met him here and now reading Fire and Fortitude.👍

[@stefanlaskowski6660]

Still the best WW2 vlog ever!

[@NVRAMboi]

Thank you Seth, Bill and John. Your details in this episode have changed my prior outlook that the Leyte landings were quick, clean and uneventful. It's nice to be corrected. My late grandfather was in/around both Leyte and later, Lingayen during these operations. I've now come to appreciate (more completely) the danger (his and other) LSTs risked during this time.

[@gregcollins7602]

Great Torpedo Tuesday guys. I think an awesome episode would be to talk about the evolution of logistics from 1942-1945. One of my favorite stories about Leyte is Chick Parsons and his return to organize the Philippine resistance. He helped a fellow Texan, William Dyess escape from the Philippines. Btw, I thought Yamashita was pronounced Yamashita, not Yamashita.

[@flparkermdpc]

Wicked funny. I knew he was executed in the somewhat less than thorough postwar criminal prosecutions. Unfortunately for the general it was unlikely that any protestations to the quality of his combat ethics would have gained any traction in that time, especially since the only ones in a position to know would have been junior officers who failed to carry out his orders for restraint and behavior fitting officers and gentlemen. As for calls for mercy from the embarrassed British, forget it.

[@reggiebenes2916]

Great episode. I love that you guys point out men like Francis Wai. I had never heard of him, and I really should have.

[@flparkermdpc]

Thanks for spelling Captain Wai's name. I have a partner in anesthesia practice whose first name is Wai, pronounced by us occidental as way. It never occurred to me that "Wai" could be a surname! When it was pronounced here as "Y" I was perplexed. So thanks for taking the ???? out. DUH!

[@johnwilson9364]

Such professionalism! It's a pleasure to participate in your effort to bring this terrible history back to life. Thank you so much.

[@patrickshanley4466]

Excellent AGAIN guys. I am with Seth on the Philippines issue. The members of the 442 RCT & 100th BN WERE NOT awarded any medals of honor until 4-5 decades after ww2. Several of my high school classmates had parents in the 442, and even more had experience with Hollywood park then MANZANAR during ww2. Kinda a sore subject with me. You guys consistently do a great show and I love your insights. I also am one of those Tuesday morning listeners 👨‍🚒

[@richardmalcolm1457]

Another great episode from Seth and Bill. Well done.

[@blockmasterscott]

I know a lot of people criticize us retaking the Philippines and say we should have bypassed it, but that was never an option. The Philippines was part of the States, and not a small part of the States either. It would have been like bypassing Alaska. Also, I spent a lot of time in the Philippines, and I can tell you from talking to people that were there that we definitely did the right thing by retaking the Philippines. 🇵🇭 I cannot stress enough how much it meant to them.

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

You're right on the money! I'm an American, but we have relatives in the Philippines. On Luzon and Mindanao. And a couple of things I can say with complete confidence. Number one, Filipinos still to this day love Americans regardless of what the media will tell you. I know this first hand from my relatives. And secondly, there is still an incredible amount of bitterness and sometimes downright hatred of the Japanese for how they conducted themselves during World War II. More specifically the IJA. And even before the war when Japan was positioning herself for the expansionism that was to be the "greater East Asian co-prosperity sphere" or whatever the fuck they called it! I could go on and on because I was raised in a household where both my parents were veterans of World War II. My Dad was US Navy, South Pacific so there was no love lost for the Japanese in our household. While I was certainly influenced by my Dad's feelings towards the Japanese, I did not feel the same way. But at 69 years of age, I certainly can understand why my Dad felt the way he did. 💖🇺🇲⚓️🙏💯👍

[@Bob.W.]

Agreed.

[@flparkermdpc]

What a great comment. I had, still have, several partners and associates in 45 years of medical practice there were no more Patriotic Americans. They are non hyphenated in their own minds to this day. There are no better citizens in the USA today.

[@joebombero1]

Don't forget the POWs and civilian internees trapped in the Philippines at the time. Plus, all the pressure Roosevelt was getting from corporations regarding their investments and infratructure languishing in the Philippines - $$$$.

[@blockmasterscott]

@@joebombero1 That’s a really good point, I had not thought of that.

[@stevehicks3526]

Thanks guys. You are doing a great job. Please keep it up as long your lives allow.

[@flparkermdpc]

Five million. What an accomplishment in the interest of truth and good, and education of Americans.

[@kevinoviatt3958]

Well Said ,honor and don't forget keep their story alive !

[@simpleliving1132]

Thanks for the convo. Yes the music is perfect.💪🎵

[@billechols7136]

Great show gentlemen.

[@ErnestBain-nk4ub]

Would love an episode or two on the us submarine forces during the last three years of the war.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Please go back through our episode playlists for Season 2. There are about half a dozen submarine specific episodes there. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKWYpGmMpdNlsKc kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKWYpGmMpdNlsKc kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqjWmaOInpd6nqc kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmKpm3uMeqaffq8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHbYZqundpaHrKc kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIGoYayVgdqmhZo kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIDGimOYZ92GpKs

[@seanquigley3605]

Thanks Guys, once again you maintained that mix of historical fact and entertaining relationships between presenters that's so needed to draw people into history and make digging into the weeds of operations a fun not dry exercise.

[@osheape]

My father was in the Pacific, 71st Seabees, and had a lifelong hatred of McArthur.

[@flparkermdpc]

Now it makes sense.

[@flparkermdpc]

The picture painted by Seth and Bill today goes a little bit lighter on MacArthur, but the American people at the time were pretty proud and shared some of the enthusiasm, even though MacArthur claimed it as his own crusade. To this day the Philippine people recognize the price Americans paid. And to this day Japan is still hated viscerally. They can probably never undo what the Japanese army and marines did.

[@fettfan91]

Congratulations Bill and Seth on 5 million views! Well deserved 👏

[@ronauvil5118]

Hoping for 5 million more views!

[@boychodurendes752]

Thank you Liberators of the Philippines

[@owensterry29]

My wife's grandfather was a Filipino guerilla who fought along side American Infantrymen. She has one picture of him in later life but in everytime he was photographed he stood at arrow-straight attention with both feet at a 45° while wearing his Filipino service medallion. I wish I could have met him.

[@mfrodyma1480]

Another great presentation. Thanks for the fine coverage of Captain Francis Wai the pride of Punahou and Hawaii.

[@bigtoe333333]

Thanks for another great show guys, and a really interesting and engaging contribution from John too.

[@flparkermdpc]

Doctor McManus was Parshallesque today, and having FUN, too.

[@timandellenmoran1213]

Thanks gents!!

[@SaundersE5]

Another excellent episode. RLTW!

[@stephencarpenteri2223]

When MacArthur returned to the Philippines few folks know (remember or care) that the Mitsubishi company used American POWs as slave labor, never paid them and then executed them (or put them on unmarked transports that we unknowingly sunk). Think about that next time you see a Mitsubishi product or want to buy a heat pump. Mitsubishi admitted and "regretted" their actions but never paid those hapless American POWs.

[@flparkermdpc]

Ooooh, boy. One could say that about all of Japan, especially in comparison to the guilt the Germans were forced to recognize and repent of. This period for the Japanese is a big blank. Not So for Germany, especially with regard to atrocities. The Japanese have gotten a free pass by comparison. We could spend a lot of time on the why of that.

[@johnvogt5847]

​@@flparkermdpc firebombing civilians and 2 atomic bombs, no country had clean hands by the end of that war

[@kensvay4561]

America bombed Cambodia back to the stone age. The people were punished for nothing. Then there is Iraq and Afghanistan. No one has ever had clean hands.

[@sizemorej]

Thanks. I am retired as a CS1 in 2005. I appreciate the long form deep dive.

[@donaldtwiss8403]

Great show and thank you for doing this. I would like to say that their are many political and strategic reason for liberating the Philippines as opposed to attackingFormosa (sp). In fact I would say it is a non argument since we did not have the resources to attack Formosa and waiting for those resources would have extended the war. One of the key resources being a friendly population that could assume a majority of the fight as we preped for invasion of Japan. A text can not layout the details of my argument but, Philippines allowed us to complete most of the task Formosa would have accomplished and was achievable. I am not a MAC fan but you can not let you dislike of a person, even if justified, cloud you view of the operation. Thanks again for a great show - Don

[@slimeydon]

Thanks guys, great episode as always

[@jammininthepast]

Thank you Seth, Captain Toti and your esteemed excellent guest, I have read several of John's books including his trilogy about the Army in the PTO. I liked them so much that I intend to read them again. Keep up the great work, thanks again, you're appreciated.

[@flparkermdpc]

You shame me. Well done. I gotta buy the trilogy now.

[@johnmarlin4661]

Please talk about the 11th Airborne efforts on Leyte next week.

[@g24thinf]

They didn't arrive until November 18th, taking over for the 7th division they did some hard fighting once they got there.

[@chrisballard1535]

I’m not trying to sharpshoot Bill here - my knowledge of Navy units and patches is nonexistent - just trying to add some clarification. 24th ID (Taro Division) has patch shaped like a taro leaf because they were formerly The Hawaiian Division. It later became a mechanized infantry division, and deactivated in 1996. 25th ID (Tropic Lightning), of which I’m an OIF veteran, also has a taro leaf on the patch, but with a lightning bolt. This earned them the semi-affectionate nickname “The Electric Strawberry.” They remain primarily light infantry, out of Hawaii, but they have one brigade in the appropriately tropical Alaska that is a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. 42nd ID is known as the Rainbow Division because when it was mobilized for WWI, it drew from all over the US. It is currently the NY National Guard unit.

[@g24thinf]

The 24th was never known as the Taro division. It was the Victory division. During Desert Storm if you saw a M1 or Bradley with a V on the side it was 24th mech inf division

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

The 24th ID was known as the Hawaiian Division before and during WWII.

[@kensvay4561]

We pretty well agree on MacArthur. But to have invaded Formosa instead would have been madness. A huge island with massive numbers of Japanese and as a long term colony of Japan would the population have resisted us too.

[@gagamba9198]

Formosa's terrain wasn't favourable. Almost the entire east coast is mountainous. The Taiwan Strait is about 180km wide, so not much room to manoeuvre, and would have placed ships within range of IJA air forces operating on the mainland. And the lowlands of the west aren't especially wide - about 120 km at its widest with so many rice paddies and dense sugar cane plantations. About the only viable location for a landing was the southwest, which is Kaohsiung city. A lot of Japanese military in the area. In contrast, the Philippines offered a plethora of landing sites preventing Japan to concentrate forces. And the Americans are aided by thousands of Filipino insurgents who had been observing and harassing the Japanese for years.

[@flparkermdpc]

Great points. King almost got his way, so I count that as a near miss in the Department of Unfortunate Choices NOT Made. I wonder if any of the men on the Joint Chiefs argued those points. I think the size of the Japanese presence and the much larger land mass did impact those discussions on which way to go.

[@lt.petemaverickmitchell7113]

The beginnings of these videos are OUTSTANDING! The music, the video clips…..sends chills down my spine when it comes on.

[@jesscarver9882]

🎉🎉 WOOO HOOO Tuesdays RULE I've said it before I'll say it again. Tuesday is the best day of the week!!!

[@1574176]

Great episode as always. Love to hear my old division the First Cavalry Division enter the fray.

[@williamharvey8895]

Monsoon season, raindrops the size of Volkswagens, been there done that.

[@leemathews1354]

When John discusses guerilla operations by the Filipino population, this falls into the area of Irregular Warfare. John mentions information operations and how those shape the battlefield in modern warfare. Information operations play a pivotal role in how commanders conduct operations. In 2020, the DoD renewed its focus on IW. When you explore Filipino unconventional warfare, information operations, and civil-military operations against the Japanese, it aligns very well with the United States' current view/approach on Irregular Warfare.

[@nkgoodal]

Gents, once again a great episode. Absolutely love having John McManus on. He's done so much to tell the story of the Army in the Pacific. I am personally proud we have the 11th Airborne and 7th ID back in service. I am no MacArthur fan, but he's truly a fascinating figure. I think my perspective is a bit closer to Seth and John's. MacArthur was an absolute egotist, but he was a truly brilliant writer and gifted political general. He had moments of bravery (here in Leyte) and cowardice (Dugout Doug). He was strategically brilliant and also strategically naive (no way he could have taken Rabaul). That said, I share Bill's concerns on his moral compass and egotism. I definitely wouldn't have wanted to serve with him. I personally think Formosa was one of the (few) areas where Admiral King was wrong (aling with the early Atlantic uboat campaign). The terrain on Formosa is brutal and it would have been a costly invasion. War is also inherently political (I assert that MacArthur was much more gifted in this area than King), and liberating the Phillipines was necessary for the Americans at home and to secure our relationship with post-war Phillippines. The US had never held Formosa as a protectorate...

[@colinellis5243]

Bill summed it up best, "a self appointed messiah"

[@flparkermdpc]

Self-appointed, for sure, but it's something missing in the American character that we can be lied to and learn nothing. And longer it goes since George Creel and president Woodrow Wilson systematized propaganda around the BIG Lie, Americans remain blind and uncritical. That said, it takes some clearing the consciences of "good" kids to get used to killing other human beings. The memoirs of combat vets commonly talk about their reluctance to pull the triggers, at least initially when you can see the face of your foe.

[@scottgiles7546]

No! No! No! He was on a "Mission From God", much like Jake Blues. (who was no saint himself...) 😁

[@kensvay4561]

Who wrote the speech?

[@barrychattillion1705]

Newman wrote an excellent book, “Follow Me” which is excellent.

[@73Trident]

Great episode and it just keeps getting better. Thanks Bill, Seth and John.

[@ArizonaJoeHines]

MacArthur's Filipino aide, last name Salveron, emigrated to the US. I attended school with his children. We were at Bladensburg High School, Bladensburg, Maryland. I was class of 1965.

[@Archibald_von_Munch]

It is amazing to me how miserable it was for those marines and, in this case, army troops fighting in the South Pacific.

[@flparkermdpc]

We know now. I haven't read any of John McManus's work yet, but I'm sure it's there. It's hard to imagine the misery index in those brutal climes added to combat with fanatically ruthless opponents, but "Helmet for My Pillow" and "With the Old Breed" get us introduced.

[@johnvogt5847]

Thanks again guys. Your work is appreciated.

[@mkaustralia7136]

On the strategic level, I find I am in agreement with MacArthur regarding Philippines rather than Formosa. The latter is much closer to the Japanese home islands. If ferrying in troops was an issue in the Philippines, it would have been far worse if the invasion were of Formosa. The mountainous side is on the east, so the better landing areas are on the west. The Japanese could do aerial shuttle attacks from China, Japan itself and even the Philippines. The mountainous terrain would have made Pelilieu seem easy, even had the western plains been cleared of defenders. As others have noted, the force multiplier of the Philippines guerrilla forces was critical. At the political level, the keeping of MacArthur’s unauthorised promise was very significant symbolically. In terms of interdiction of Japanese supplies, the Philippines allows the U.S. to do that better than from Formosa. In terms of a hindsight review, we must never forget that it was the Atom bombs which changed the Japanese mindset from “total defence to the last child” to surrender. Those were not available much earlier than they were used. Taking Formosa would not have hastened the end of the war - just as taking the Philippines did not of itself hasten its end.

[@nickdanger3802]

401 miles / 646 kilometers / 349 nautical miles from Okinawa to Formosa/Taiwan. As I understand it Formosa was the most heavily fortified part of the empire, and the indigenous people preferred the Japanese to the Chinese.

[@curlus]

Woo! First! I want a signed copy of one of John Parshall's books!

[@servantofgod5642]

Wrong Curley I was first no book for you no nothin.

[@ralphregan1473]

Oh Joy! It’s Tuesday morning.

[@markfrumkin3230]

Thank you for your hard work!

[@christopherj.osheav5807]

Good show, gents.

[@CoryGarnaas-m1t]

I hope you guys are going to do a video on just the greatest raid by the 11th airborne and also I would love to see some recognition of the 77th ID the old bastards.

[@stephenmerrin9442]

Fantastic. Love the presentation

[@Vito_Tuxedo]

Seth: Thanks for providing a welcome counterbalance in citing those of MacArthur's actions that were right, and in presenting his perspective fairly. All fans of this channel know that you aren't a Mac fanboy. On that basis, your paying credit *_where due_* to MacArthur elevates the integrity of your content above the cheap-shot Mac-bashing that has become _de rigueur_ elsewhere. Acknowledging *_all_* positive contributions to the war effort is the difference between history and spin.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

@@Vito_Tuxedo historians pay credit where it is due. But we also call bullshit when it’s there.

[@Vito_Tuxedo]

@@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar - Seth: Of course you do! That's just one of the reasons why I'm having a blast working my way through every one of your videos. Another reason is the incredible stuff I'm learning here and nowhere else. Your guests are superb, and Cap'n Bill's insights and "color commentary" are unique and invaluable. Any episode where Bill gets fired up, it's like the afterburner kicks in. Truth be told, I'm recovering from an orthopedic procedure that requires a physical therapist to come to my home until I can get ambulatory. He's a senior, like me, and we got talking about the Pacific war. I had one of these episodes cued up on my iPad, so I showed it to him. He wrote down the channel name, and said he can't wait to start watching episodes. No one can accuse me of being a fan of this channel and get away unrewarded. 😎

[@Les537]

Thanks, guys. Rock on.

[@SaundersE5]

I’d love an episode dedicated to Colonel Red Mike Edson and the 1st Marine Raider Battalion. They were some bad hombres. Your podcast is the definitive story of the war in the Pacific, I look forward to each episode. Thanks!

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Been there done that already

[@SaundersE5]

@@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWarguess I’ll catch up then. My bad

[@martinjohnson5498]

Thanks!

[@PeterOConnell-pq6io]

Amazing depth detailing the Army's land battle, MacArthur, and soldier's individual heroism. The land battle seems historically over-shadowed by the epic naval battles.

[@flparkermdpc]

It's provided John McManus with his Life's Work, and there's room for more he says.

[@sailordude2094]

I love the history details, thanks! BTW, @18:50, that unit (25th ID) sounds like the one Burt Lancaster was in, in the film From Here To Eternity, nice to see where that character went after Pearl Harbor, lol.

[@walterrider9600]

thank you for all the info . of course gen ped wanted to get back to the PI .

[@smanderville1]

MG Newman was my honory Regimental Commander in the mid 80's. He would spend hours of his time trying to impart his experience and knowledge to a bunch of junior officers. I so enjoyed his tutelage! He gave me hell about bring the anti- tank company commander..... for not thinking how we could use 16 M-60 machine guns as a flying force. I took his lesson to heart! He and his wife were a gemstone in my life.

[@flparkermdpc]

I'm having a hard time visualizing of what you speak. "?Puff, the Magic gunship?"

[@smanderville1]

No...16 tracks with m-60 machine guns

[@g24thinf]

Mac was chomping at the bit to land on the beach, a landing craft carrying wounded passed by the Nashville and Mac asked where the action was hottest. The sailor replied Red Beach 34th sector. Thats why Mac landed there

[@leejones2640]

Much of our attention in Europe is given to the current aggression of the Russian Empire, but I now have a new passion for learning about the defeat of the Japanese Empire in the Pacific. The sheer power of the US is staggering. To fight in Europe and the Pacific simultaneously! Btw, as a Brit it makes me chuckle when you say "London, England" Where else would London be?😅 And yes, I know there may be other Londons in the Anglo Saxon world. Australia, Canada, US, NZ Still makes me chuckle.

[@Steve-dg3md]

When a man deploys to a combat zone... his wife becomes his anchor.. his dream.... in his messed up reality of death and destruction. It's a shame when the wife at home doesn't realize the deep connection her husband has with her. 😮

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

I never served but I grew up in a family were both my parents were veterans of World War ii. My dad was US Navy South Pacific and from what my mom told me over the years the war really changed him. How could it not? But at least in my household both parents served so there was that deep understanding for one another that help them both immensely.

[@mkaustralia7136]

The University of Queensland gave Dugout Doug an honorary doctorate in 1945. Doug wrote to them saying he needed to be at the front so he could not attend in person to receive it. “Front” sort of.

[@CarnageDogg]

Bill & Seth's excellent podcast.

[@robert506007]

Well I am not one of the WWII vets but I thankyou for all the History. Frankly, few have done it as well. None have done it better.

[@brushhogg1]

As to McManus' comments about deadly combat and dire perils during a landing considered "smooth", I remember an account of a B-17 copilot who commented how much of a "milk run" the mission had been. Just then a neighboring plane took a flak hit and went down in flames. The pilot said "I'll bet he thinks this is a rough mission...."

[@flparkermdpc]

I'm superstitious enough that I couldn't have uttered such a statement until back on Terra firma with engines shut down and all the ,50 cal machine guns emptied and stowed. And all the other returning planes accounted for..

[@Squirmula1]

While I was working on my MA in Anthropology at SIU in the mid 80's we had a prof from the Philippines. I am guessing she was in her 60's at the time. I only took one class from her. Given the liberal bent of programs like that, and I am not casting dispersions one way or the other, but she had a blood lust against the Japanese that for a 20 something anthro grad student like me was unsettling. Once I learned more about the battle for Manila, in retrospect, I totally understood her position.

[@stevezenor2545]

My father was in the 112th Cav.

[@paularchibald7734]

As a Navy vet, I have an opinion on McArthur. Since this is a family-friendly site, I won't share it.

[@g24thinf]

Army vets don't think much of navy girls either.

[@Thumpalumpacus]

i always love when Dr McManus is on the show ... plus, there's no weird wallpaper. :)

[@flparkermdpc]

Hey, that's his office. A professional space. Jon is showing off his decorative skills in his private space!LOL!

[@Thumpalumpacus]

@@flparkermdpc I love Mr Parshall's presentations as well, just like giving him flak for his interior decorating skills. :)

[@efrenplaza]

My joining the USAF was influenced heavily from this war particularly in these areas Leyte and Samar. My family is from Eastern Samar, some of my grand parents joined the guerilla movement and because of that my family has to move by big canoes from one island to another to avoid Japanese persecution. The good thing we have relatives from Northern Samar down to Homonhon Island.

[@douglaskillock3537]

You need to up your shirt game guys. Love you all and everything you give us

[@carrabellefl]

Thanks!