On Saturday 2.4.2022, Czech Television 2 showed the great US film General Mac Arthur (1977), starring the excellent Gregory Peck. It has one more rerun to go. Let's hope Czech TV will show it on the anniversary of the end of World War II in the world. The words of Gen. Mac Arthur said after the signing of Japan's surrender are still relevant today. It should be set in stone!
We "fight" in movies on CT screens even more so when we are unable to fight alone - our military has never fought and surrendered arms to the enemy in 100 years. That's why we love to "fight" so much on TV screens, but in reality we are cowards.
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Today, the guns have fallen silent. And the great tragedy is over.
I speak for the thousands of lips that were silenced forever in the jungles and on the beaches and on the ocean that made this moment possible. I pray that almighty providence, will impress upon all men of good will the knowledge that wars are sad and unnecessary. We have known the bitterness of defeat and the sweetness of triumph, and we have learned from both that this must not happen again.
We must go forward to keep in peace what we have gained in war. The destructive power of the war potential, as a result of the great advances in science, has now reached a point which is changing the traditional conception of war.
War, this most pernicious scourge and greatest sin of mankind, cannot be controlled, only eliminated.
We find ourselves on the threshold of a new era. Unless we find better and more appropriate ways of resolving disputes between nations, only the apocalypse awaits us. We have been given one last chance.
At 6:15 this morning, General Bradley called me with a message from General MacArthur. He reports that he's facing 260,000 Chinese. He says he's in a pincer. He's had to pull back on the defensive. It's not a group of volunteers. China has jumped headfirst into the conflict.
So what do they say about me in Washington?
Sir, to be honest, they think you walked into a Chinese trap. That's deliberate misinformation. The defeat of North Korea was convincing. In the face of my victory, the Chinese Communists committed the greatest violation of international law in history. Now we are faced with a new, fresh and well-trained army.
What does Truman mean by "police action"? Isn't the result, the number of casualties increasing daily?
This "police action" almost destroyed the Korean nation. And why? This attitude brings so much blood and suffering to all who are here. Every time I go out as if I'm sick. I feel sick to my stomach. Does he want to continue this? For what reason, anyway? Sir, he must consider the Russians and our allies. General Bradley is of the same opinion. He says a war with China would be the wrong war, at the wrong time, in the wrong place, with the wrong enemy.
Our General Staff.
I asked permission to bomb Chinese airfields in Manchuria, but my request was denied. I asked permission to pursue enemy planes to their sacred sanctuary across the Yalu River. I was denied again. I asked permission to bomb bridges to keep the Chinese out of Korea. They said, "You can only bomb the southern half of the bridge." In my 50 years of military service, I have yet to learn how to bomb only half of a bridge. It's the most permissive order a field commander has ever received. This is a shame. If we don't take some positive action, we'll have to withdraw to Japan. Excuse me, sir, but... There are people back home who think it's possible to resume the offensive without... without the danger of the war spreading. Without the danger of the war spreading? Well, the Eighth Army is Ridgway now. He can do whatever he wants. But it sucks.
For the first time in the history of warfare, a commander is prevented from using military force to protect the lives of his soldiers and for the safety of his army.
And that comes as a terrible shock to me. Matt, the Ridgway Corps has recaptured Seoul. What did I say? I wish I could celebrate, but the war is not yet won. The front is moving up and down, back and forth, but victory is still not in sight. This isn't a war, it's half a war. And a moral compromise with evil. It's not just dust settling in Korea, Sid. But American blood as well. Yes, sir. And the commander of the British mission would like to see you.
What can he want?
He's afraid that if we get into a desperate situation, we'll use the bomb. They're more concerned about British profits in Hong Kong than saving lives in Korea. Then I'll move the meeting, sir. Excuse me, General, we've received word that Washington wants us to halt all offensive action immediately. I'm sorry. They want a political solution rather than a military one. They plan to propose a cease-fire. They've also asked you for suggestions for a minor tweak of the battle line to consolidate our position for better defense. Minor adjustments? What are they talking about? Why should I suggest anything, this is a complete surrender. Given Truman's views, don't you want to replace your policy with his? I could replace my policy with Truman's, but Mr. Truman has no policy. All right, sir. Why don't you let me know that you need to study the proposals. No, I have a better idea. We'll send a message to the Chinese commander. Put it on all frequencies. I want maximum publicity. Sir, you are specifically forbidden to make any statements. Sir, that's a direct order from the president. And part of a dangerous concept. Our troops are primarily pledging allegiance to temporary, temporary tenants in the White House instead of the country and the Constitution we're sworn to defend!
I need to kick that disobedient bastard's ass and throw him into the Sea of Japan.
Such a sneaky trick. I drag myself halfway around the world to get a deal, and he thinks he can do whatever he wants. Can you imagine that? He actually sent a dispatch to the Chinese threatening to destroy their forces if they didn't come to an agreement with him right away, with him personally. There's a story where Lincoln tried to saddle a Yankee horse and the horse got its hoof stuck in the stirrup. He said to him, "If you mount, I'll dismount." I'm not backing down. I think Roosevelt should have pulled Wainwright out of Corregidor, and let that lampoon MacArthur become a martyr. Now what am I supposed to do about the truce proposal? Tear it up. I can't deal with China on any political basis now. The man is trying to start World War III. But I'm gonna shoot that prima donna right now. Who does he think he is? God?
What do you think Congress would do if I impeached him?
He'd skin you alive. Luckily for me, the Navy fielder's throw was too long, high over the catcher at third base. Thanks to those two inaccurate throws, I was able to round the bases for home, and it turned out to be the winning run. Excuse me. So the final score was West Point 4, Annapolis 3. I think that's when my mom screamed the loudest. She always came to cheer me on. They said we were the first...
A mother and son who graduated from West Point on the same day. It was in Annapolis, it was...
All right, Jeannie, we're finally going home. It was the first baseball game between West Point and the Naval Academy. So much for my baseball career, and happy memories. Now, if you'll excuse me. I've never seen anything like it. The whole town came out to celebrate America's greatest hero. Official estimates say 7 to 10 million people gathered here, and that beats the returns of Lindbergh and Eisenhower combined. The schools are empty, the crowds are enthusiastic, all the officials have simply taken a vacation. Meanwhile, in our capital, the General Staff has issued a statement from which I quote. "It is essential that all military commanders follow our laws and instructions and respect the constitutional guarantees of civilian control of the military." When we asked President Truman for a statement, he said... "All people who think they are gods get into trouble sooner or later. The people of this country are men and women of common sense, and whenever someone steps out of line, the people must step in and remove his power. But, when war has been forced upon us there is no alternative but to use all possible means to end it. The goal of war is victory, not prolonged indecision. In war, there is no substitute for victory.
History teaches us with unmistakable emphasis that retreat always leads to a new and bloodier war. Just as blackmail only creates a base for more and greater demands. Until, as with blackmail, there is no choice but to respond with force. "Why", I have been asked by brave soldiers who have had to give up their hard-won advantages on the battlefields? I could not answer. The level of courage and bravery of the Korean people defies description. They chose death rather than slavery. Their last words were, "Never leave the Pacific."
I'm slowly coming to the end of 52 years of military service.
When I joined the Army, back in the last century, it was the fulfillment of all my boyhood dreams. The whole world has changed many times since I took the oath of enlistment at West Point. And my hopes and dreams have long since taken a backseat, but I still remember the refrain of a song that proudly proclaims, "Old soldiers never die. They just fade away." Like the old soldier in that song, I am now closing out my military career, and just fading away. An old soldier who tried to do his duty, and God sent him light to see his duty well. Farewell.
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Go to hell. And he's running for president. I give you the greatest war hero, the greatest idol America has ever had. Our greatest leader, inspiration and man of action. I give you the next President of the United States, five-star Army General Dwight David Eisenhower!
What kind of president do you think he'll be? I think he'll be a good president. He was the best public servant who ever served under me. The shadows are lengthening. Twilight is coming. My old days have lost their brightness and color, and now they are passing and fading. In dreams of things, in dreams of things long past.
The memory of them, silent with wondrous beauty, dissolves them with tears and hope, and embraces them with the smiles of yesterday. I listened with eager ears, though in vain, to the enchanting melody of the distant trumpet, announcing the wake. To the muffled drums sounding a long journey, in my dreams I mix the firing of small arms, the rumble and thunder of cannons. The strange and mournful bustle of the battlefield. But at night, in my thoughts, I always return to West Point. Here three words always sounded and returned. Duty - Honor - Country.
Tonight, I'm fulfilling my final task and speaking to you. I want you to know that when I cross the river, my last thoughts will belong to the Army, the Army and the Army. I say goodbye to you, forever.
General Douglas MacArthur
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