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CEREMONY AT
CAMP MURPHY,
RIZAL, 15 August 1941, marking the
induction of the Philippine Army Air Corps. Behind Lt. Gen.
Douglas MacArthur, from left to right, are Lt. Col. Richard K.
Sutherland, Col. Harold H. George, Lt. Col. William F.
Marquat, and Maj. LeGrande A. Diller. |
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When General MacArthur assumed command of U.S. Army Forces in the Far
East, there was no program in the War Department for any immediate
large-scale reinforcement of the Islands. As a matter of fact, the War
Department specifically told MacArthur that he could have "no additional
forces, except approximately 400 reserve officers to assist in training
the Philippine Army. . . ."
Within a few days, there was a complete reversal of
policy in the War Department. The first sign of this change came on 31
July when General Marshall approved a proposal by the War Plans Division
to reinforce the Islands' defense "in view of the possibility of an
attack." The next day MacArthur was informed that he would receive
substantial reinforcements and Marshall told his immediate staff, "It
was the policy of the United States to defend the Philippines." This
statement so impressed the Chief of the War Plans Division that he
entered it in his office diary.
The reasons for this
change of policy are nowhere explicitly stated. |
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Pic 25 |
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�2005
Corregidor Historic Society - all rights reserved |