Who was the greatest American General?

Rembrandt

The need for leadership has been brought home after this last weeks events. What American General was the greatest leader for our country?.....why? Don't want to exclude any Navy Admirals, so let's add them to the topic. [This message has been edited by Rembrandt (edited 09-17-2001).]

Mark II

Robert E. Lee. Reason being that he took an army with less of just about everything against an advisary who had more of just about everything, and kept it up for four years. Did the best he could with what he had. If that's not a sign of good leadership, then what is?

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"To meet with ill fortune is to meet with good fortune. To meet with submission is to meet an enemy."

Krag96

Jubilation C.Cornpone, (Oh toot Your own horn, Pone)

royc38

I am happy to say this is tuff because we have had so many over the years. If the topic was great French Generals this would be easy. So here goes:Greatest Political General: EisenhowerGreatest Miltary art planner:McArthurGreatest Fighting General : N. Bedford ForrestSo I would love to see Eisenhower as supreme commander, McArthur as military stradegist and Forrest as my Commander. Now that would cover all the bases.

edharold

Anthony Wayne!He took a couple hundred irregular troops through the winter condition to Detroit and defeated a garrison of British Regulars.

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"They that would give up liberty to obtain safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"Benj. Franklin, 1759

geranimo

patton he was reincarnated as the best thats why he died so soon after the war he will return

beachmaster73

Thought provoking thread. At the higher levels of command my choice would be Omar Bradley because he cared about accomplishing the mission and he truly cared about his men's lives and most importantly he cared very little for his own personal glory. At a tactical level it would have to be a virtually unknown and unsung American hero, Rear Admiral Clifton "Ziggy" Sprague, whose heroism and use of virtually no assets during the Battle off Samar(one of the four major engagements of the Battle of Leyte Gulf) turned the potential complete destruction of the American invasion fleet and their embarked 500,000 troops into a tactical victory. Very few American sailors can keep the tears from their eyes as they remember the three American destroyers and three destroyer escorts when they ATTACKED four Japanese battleships, six Japanese heavy cruisers, two Japanese light cruisers, and eleven Japanese heavy destroyers.Although their five inchprojectiles bounced off the Japanese heavy ships Sprague's escorts fought with such ferocity that the Japanese were convinced they had run into a cruiser screen and were facing battleships on the horizon. Little did they realize that on the other side of Sprague was nothing but unprotected transports filled with American troops just waiting to be sunk. It was probably the United States Navy's most heroic and finest moment, but because of Halsey's monumental screwup to the north with Task Force 34 it became a forgotten footnote in the history of the Navy. "Ziggy" Sprague gets my vote. BeachIncidently more Navy ships are named after participents in the Battle off Samar than any other battle in American history.[This message has been edited by beachmaster73 (edited 09-18-2001).]

nord

Lest we forget -A gentleman by the name of Washington. Not a military man, yet he had the burden of a new nation thrust on his shoulders. A member of colonial gentry, yet able to lead the common man and to engender his trust.And most important - A man that could have been king, yet turned all that power away in the interest of a new nation.Name one other general faced with similar circumstances that's had the will and humility to do the same.

metz

For results and focus of attention: PattonFor the most human/humane:BradleyThe most over rated: McArthurThe admiral that went over to Tripoli and rescued our boys way back when had the "biggest brass Ones"Then there is Custer........Hard to pick a favorite from the Revolution, most were the pioneers of freedom and bravery. The South had several great generals that were under supplied and not motivated and seem to have been diminished with the loss and time, kind of a shame most were far superior in "talent" to what the North had.My favorites however are more of the muti cultural Ghengis Khan, Any Viking(loved the theory rape, ponder and pilage till you die. Ahhh the good ol' days) Alexander the great, Napolean and Horatio Hornblower to name a few. The American Indians also had some great leaders without such rank and Jim Bowie was only a colonel but quite a colorful chap and leader of men to be sure.AndyThis not a complete list, just food for thought. Hard question to be direct with. Each period of time required it's own resourcefulness and put certain challenges to it's leaders. It's hard to pick and absolute favorite, for me anyway. I have certain ones that are favorites for differant things. Thomas Jefferson is the one individual that embodies most of the qualities in one body, but again not a General, and only for me I'm sure.[This message has been edited by metz (edited 09-18-2001).]

njretcop

This one is easy......the answer is General Motors! Damm, I should have never sold that 68 TransAm.

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Guns don't kill people, it's the bullets, stupidI am the NRA, the KABA, the 2ampd..njretcop@copmail.com

218Beekeep

Sorry buddy,but the General Lee wern`t no GM,She wer a Dodge!!!!

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Will the last reb to leave flarda,please bring the flag?

alledan

Norman Swartzkopf!He didn't have a long lived battle career but i think he might have been a great historical figure!He sure gave them hell on the road of death during the Iraqi chicken festival with that hail mary manuveur.

Rembrandt

So many of the most notable Generals and Admirals that scored huge victories also had some blunders to their credit. Some of this can be attributed to poor intellegence. Patton, Bradley, Eisenhower, Swartzkopf, Nimitz, Pershing, Kinney, Halsey, Grant, Marshall, King, Doolittle and others were right up there as some of the greatest. The greatest in my opinion would be Douglas MacArther. He fought in 3 major conflicts. Was one of the most decorated soldiers of WWI. Took command of West Point between the wars and shaped it into a first class training center for future officers that would change the course of WWII and Korea. His campaign to strike the Japanese where they weren't, encircle, cut off supply lines and starve them out...when he was out numbered and out supplied was part of his brilliance. His insistance that the Phillipine's be liberated to rescue the forces left behind against objections from Roosevelt and the Navy heads, who wanted to bypass and go for Formosa. MacArther's understanding of the oriental culture and his oversight in rebuilding of Japan, few if any could have done better. The Japanese to this day hold MacArther in very high regard. His landing at Inchon was a brilliant and very risky success.With that said, MacArther was not without flaws. He knew how to play the political games of the politicians, he knew how to promote himself and build a larger than life image of himself....primmadona? yes, but other great leaders had the same characteristics. (Patton, Montgomery, etc.) The one instance that liberals love to point out about MacArther was his disobedience to Truman. MacArthur was furious that Truman would not allow him to chase or bomb the Chinese cross the Yalu river. Once again a politician that thought he could out general the General. But then again Truman was the commander in Chief, and MacArther's duty was to obey. No he wasn't perfect,...no other commander can match his record of leadership in three major conficts, WWI, WWII, and Korea. MacArther was also a recipiant of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Homer J Simpson

As a tactician - Nathan Bedford Forrest, Lee, Washington and Patton- in no order. (little picture)As a political general, Ike, Washington and Lee- in no order. (big picture)There would not be a big picture without the little picture.As an aside, there was a great conspiracy theory given to Andrew Jackson. Americans in the 1820's were suspect of another Napoleon. And Jackson was a military genius, and headed for the presidency. The press was as shrill and as stupid as they are today.Great question.

Chase1911

Gotta put in a plug in for General Charles Summerall http://www.geocities.com/chase1911/summerall.html

wiredog

Omar Bradley because he was born in Clark, Missouri 20 miles from where I live

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I spent all my money on guns, women, and beer. The rest I just wasted.wiredog70@hotmail.com

jonk

Ooh, good question! For battlefield effectiveness, gotta go with Patton on this one. For doing a lot with a little, gotta go with Lee. He was also probably our best strategist (yeah, yeah, I know he was Confederate, but still American). For historical importance, Ike. My personal favorite? Gen. Billy Mitchell. A visionary who was busted for being to vocal.

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Wenn alles richtig ist, dann stimmt 'was nicht. -Nena (When everything is going right, something is bound to be wrong.)

Iconoclast

I'm not going to disagree w/ anyone here nor put forward my own favorites. But I want to call attention to the fact that we have so many great ones, from the self-effacing Sprague to the publicity-seeking Patton & MacArthur; from Washington to someone who will distinguish himself in the months ahead. As a people, we often become bogged down in minutia, but in a true crisis there is never a shortage of heroes or of great leaders. I believe that speaks to the strength of our principles, our people and our institutions.

bradf111

Pulaski. Pulled Washington's rear out of the fire at Valley Forge and went on to train and lead to victory over British.

218Beekeep

General Mills does a bang up with their fine selection or breakfast cerials,and their restraunts...Red Lobster,Long John Silvers et al