General Macarthur Quote by Joseph E. Persico
““Major General Charles Summerall, spotted a gateway to glory. Rather than merely “assisting,” he would take advantage of the flexibility Pershing’s order provided and violate a commandment of battlefield tactics. He intended to send elements of his 1st Division, under the equally fiery Brigadier General Frank Parker, through ground currently held by the 42nd and 77th Divisions in order to beat these rivals to Sedan. The chaos that ensued was illustrated when General MacArthur was temporarily arrested by men of Parker’s division as a suspected German spy.””
About This Quote
Source Book: "The Last Full Measure" by Joseph E. Persico, 1998
General Summerall exploited flexible orders, violating tactics, leading to chaotic actions and a mistaken arrest of General MacArthur.
In simple terms: A commander misused orders, causing chaos and a false arrest.
Key Takeaway
Follow clear command structures to avoid chaos.
Themes
military strategy
leadership
command hierarchy
Mood
analytical
historical
Type
educational
critical
When to use this quote
- battlefield decisions
- chain of command
- military justice
Key Concepts
history
tactical ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- Could Summerall’s actions be justified by urgency?
- What safeguards prevent such tactical violations?
A Different Perspective
Flexibility can be abused, risking mission failure.
