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The Years of MacArthur #2
The Years of MacArthur: 1941-1945
A detailed biography of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, chronicles his controversial military, administrative, and political career and examines his complex, contradictory personality and character
960 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1975
About the author
D. Clayton James
16 books1 followerDorris Clayton James was born on February 13, 1931, in Winchester, Kentucky, to Dorris Clayton (b.1890) and Opal Vashti Shetter James (1896-1932). In early childhood he moved to Natchez, Mississippi, and lived with his relatives, Newell and Daisy Bankston. In 1953 he married Erlene Downs and they had four children: Dorris Sherrod (1955- ), Newell Edmund (1956- ), Judith Erlene (1960- ), and Allie Brady (1964- ).
After graduating from Natchez High School in 1949, James attended Southwestern at Memphis and graduated in 1953. He went on to receive a B.D. degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1956 and served in churches in Union, Kentucky, and Cameron, Texas, between 1954 and 1960 as well as being a Naval Reserve chaplain. Beginning graduate work at the University of Cincinnati from 1956 to 1957, James moved to the University of Texas at Austin to complete an M.A. in 1959 and a Ph.D. in 1964. He began teaching history at Louisiana State University at Alexandria in 1961 before accepting an assistant professorship at Mankato State College, Minnesota, in 1964. Returning to Mississippi in 1965, James began a 23-year association with Mississippi State University as a professor of history, becoming a Distinguished Professor in 1978. He also held the Harold K. Johnson Chair of Military History at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania and the John F. Morrison Chair of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, Kansas. In addition, James was a Harmon Lecturer at the U.S. Air Force Academy in those years. In 1988 he moved to Lexington, Virginia, to become the John Biggs Chair in Military History at the Virginia Military Institute until his retirement in 1996.
Dr. James published nine books and authored many articles and chapters, primarily on World War II, the Korean War and their strategists. His first book—based on his dissertation—was Antebellum Natchez (1968), followed by the diary of General William Brougher, South to Bataan, North to Mukden (1971). He is best known for his three-volume biography of General Douglas MacArthur, published between 1974 and 1985; the definitive work on the man. The third volume of The Years of MacArthur earned the Truman Book Award in 1986 and nominations for both the Pulitzer and Parkman prizes.
As the authority on MacArthur, James became the chief technical adviser for the 1976 Universal movie “MacArthur”, starring Gregory Peck, which required several months in California. He also consulted on the BBC television series “The Commanders” (1973-1974). He appeared on NBC’s ‘Today’ show in 1970 and was interviewed on Voice of America in 1985.
James wrote four books with his assistant, Anne Sharp Wells: A Time for Giants (1987), Refighting the Last War (1992), From Pearl Harbor to V-J Day (1995), and America and the Great War, 1914-1920 (1998).
Dr. James was involved with a number of American and military history organizations. He served on the Historical Advisory Board of the Normandy Battle Museum and Archives, and on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Centennial Advisory Committee. He was a fellow of the Society of American Historians, a trustee of the Society of Military History, and a director and secretary of the World War Two Studies Association. In 1996 he was awarded the Commander’s Award for Public Service by the Center of Military History, Department of the Army.
Dr. James was living in Moneta, Virginia, when he died after a long illness on August 4, 2004.
Sources:
D. Clayton James papers.
Who’s Who in America, 1997. Vol. 1, A-K. New Providence, NJ: Marquis, 1996, pp.2109-2110.
Obituary. Natchez Democrat, 2004 August 7.
After graduating from Natchez High School in 1949, James attended Southwestern at Memphis and graduated in 1953. He went on to receive a B.D. degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1956 and served in churches in Union, Kentucky, and Cameron, Texas, between 1954 and 1960 as well as being a Naval Reserve chaplain. Beginning graduate work at the University of Cincinnati from 1956 to 1957, James moved to the University of Texas at Austin to complete an M.A. in 1959 and a Ph.D. in 1964. He began teaching history at Louisiana State University at Alexandria in 1961 before accepting an assistant professorship at Mankato State College, Minnesota, in 1964. Returning to Mississippi in 1965, James began a 23-year association with Mississippi State University as a professor of history, becoming a Distinguished Professor in 1978. He also held the Harold K. Johnson Chair of Military History at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania and the John F. Morrison Chair of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, Kansas. In addition, James was a Harmon Lecturer at the U.S. Air Force Academy in those years. In 1988 he moved to Lexington, Virginia, to become the John Biggs Chair in Military History at the Virginia Military Institute until his retirement in 1996.
Dr. James published nine books and authored many articles and chapters, primarily on World War II, the Korean War and their strategists. His first book—based on his dissertation—was Antebellum Natchez (1968), followed by the diary of General William Brougher, South to Bataan, North to Mukden (1971). He is best known for his three-volume biography of General Douglas MacArthur, published between 1974 and 1985; the definitive work on the man. The third volume of The Years of MacArthur earned the Truman Book Award in 1986 and nominations for both the Pulitzer and Parkman prizes.
As the authority on MacArthur, James became the chief technical adviser for the 1976 Universal movie “MacArthur”, starring Gregory Peck, which required several months in California. He also consulted on the BBC television series “The Commanders” (1973-1974). He appeared on NBC’s ‘Today’ show in 1970 and was interviewed on Voice of America in 1985.
James wrote four books with his assistant, Anne Sharp Wells: A Time for Giants (1987), Refighting the Last War (1992), From Pearl Harbor to V-J Day (1995), and America and the Great War, 1914-1920 (1998).
Dr. James was involved with a number of American and military history organizations. He served on the Historical Advisory Board of the Normandy Battle Museum and Archives, and on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Centennial Advisory Committee. He was a fellow of the Society of American Historians, a trustee of the Society of Military History, and a director and secretary of the World War Two Studies Association. In 1996 he was awarded the Commander’s Award for Public Service by the Center of Military History, Department of the Army.
Dr. James was living in Moneta, Virginia, when he died after a long illness on August 4, 2004.
Sources:
D. Clayton James papers.
Who’s Who in America, 1997. Vol. 1, A-K. New Providence, NJ: Marquis, 1996, pp.2109-2110.
Obituary. Natchez Democrat, 2004 August 7.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 17, 2024
This is volume 2 of James' three volume epic biography of Douglas MacArthur. James was a liberal and she more or less white-washes FDR's treatment of MacArthur during the war, but overall she is fair (if critical) of MacArthur.
She more or less destroys the myth (started by E. Morrison in his Naval history of WW II) that MacArthur was disrepectful to FDR when he visited Hawaii in July 44, or that FDR's was engaged in serious discussion of Pacific Strategy. Unfortunately, this myth never dies, with authors still pretending that FDR "allowed" MacArthur to return to the Philippines and overruled Nimitz. In fact, the superficial 4 hours of strategic discussion between MacArthur and Nimitz with FDR decided nothing. As FDR said off-the-record to newsmen, he agreed MacArthur should return AT SOME TIME to the Philippines. But never agreed that the Philippines should be invaded in 1944.
She more or less destroys the myth (started by E. Morrison in his Naval history of WW II) that MacArthur was disrepectful to FDR when he visited Hawaii in July 44, or that FDR's was engaged in serious discussion of Pacific Strategy. Unfortunately, this myth never dies, with authors still pretending that FDR "allowed" MacArthur to return to the Philippines and overruled Nimitz. In fact, the superficial 4 hours of strategic discussion between MacArthur and Nimitz with FDR decided nothing. As FDR said off-the-record to newsmen, he agreed MacArthur should return AT SOME TIME to the Philippines. But never agreed that the Philippines should be invaded in 1944.
January 25, 2015
This puppy's big, but was an easy read. Another thing I appreciated was the thirty-nine well-drawn maps; if a place was mentioned in the text, it was on the map, something of which I missed in other books more often than not. I read this based on a friend's recommendation because I want to formulate an objective opinion of The General (as his Missus called him). This tome was better than most, but it didn't make it easy. I wish that there was a summation of what he did right at the end of each section. There is a good one at the end of "Part II: Papuan Campaign," but the reader will have to discover other positives throughout the narrative and note them. The minuses are covered and they come in two flavors: those petty misdeeds, many of them as a result of his ego and tactical errors which author James mentions. One's final evaluation may also be positively influenced by "success speaks for itself." His forces advanced over 2700 miles and inflicted enormous casualties upon the enemy. MacArthur was in charge of all this, and despite some missteps, pulled it off. A general should win the glory for a campaign in which the superior resources of air, land, and water are successfully brought to bear on the proper objective (worked, without the air, for U.S. Grant!).
So, thinking on what I read, I come away with an opinion of an excellent theater commander who succeeded, although I can't accord him the godlike status of, say, Robert E. Lee. It may be time to read someone's panegyric, but with this book not too far away!
The book covers the campaigns in some detail, and all the better for the maps.One thing puzzled me and I can't fault the author for this. Casualty figures for the Japanese tend to far exceed those of the Allies. For example, at Driniumoor, 440 U.S. deaths to 10,000 Japanese; at Leyte, 2900 U.S. to 56,000 Japanese; one action in Luzon, 175 U.S. to 3000 Japanese; on Cebu, 400 U.S., 5500 Japanese. No mention of how tactics play in this but I'm curious. All Banzai charges?
Worth the read, if you're really interested in the MacArthur's life and campaigns.
So, thinking on what I read, I come away with an opinion of an excellent theater commander who succeeded, although I can't accord him the godlike status of, say, Robert E. Lee. It may be time to read someone's panegyric, but with this book not too far away!
The book covers the campaigns in some detail, and all the better for the maps.One thing puzzled me and I can't fault the author for this. Casualty figures for the Japanese tend to far exceed those of the Allies. For example, at Driniumoor, 440 U.S. deaths to 10,000 Japanese; at Leyte, 2900 U.S. to 56,000 Japanese; one action in Luzon, 175 U.S. to 3000 Japanese; on Cebu, 400 U.S., 5500 Japanese. No mention of how tactics play in this but I'm curious. All Banzai charges?
Worth the read, if you're really interested in the MacArthur's life and campaigns.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews