First full biography of MacArthur's chief intelligence officer Charles Willoughby, reflecting on the consequences of prioritising loyalty to a superior over objectivity of intelligence. Major General Charles A. Willoughby served as Douglas MacArthur's stalwart chief intelligence officer (G-2} for over a decade, throughout World War II and the Korean War. This first full biography examines Willoughby's shadowy origins in his native Germany, his curious arrival in the United States, and his military service in World War I, as well as his work during the interwar years as a junior diplomat, budding historian, and neophyte intelligence officer. His chance encounter with MacArthur in the mid-1930s would prove to be the genesis of a near-symbiotic relationship between the two, with significant consequences for both. Throughout his life, Willoughby identified with strong, authoritarian leaders, notably Franco, and?especially?MacArthur. The author also assesses Willoughby's performance as a professional intelligence officer both in World War II and Korea, where he is often vilified for his inaccurate assessments of enemy strength and most likely courses of action, as well as his sycophantic relationship with his commander. Willoughby is most often criticized for his failing to foresee the entry of Chinese forces into the Korean War and its impact upon the US Army and the prosecution of the war. Following MacArthur's removal by President Truman in 1951, Willoughby retired and spent the rest of his days engaged in right-wing political activity and in staunchly defending his much-maligned boss. The legacy he left is one filled with lingering and important questions about loyalty to superiors, in civilian as well as military environments, how far that loyalty should extend, and walking the tightrope involved in telling truth to power. AUTHOR: Dr. David Foy received his Ph.D. in Modern European History from the University of Arkansas, where he also was selected for Phi Beta Kappa. He has more than three decades' experience as a professional historian and intelligence officer, having worked as a college faculty member, an active-duty and civilian member of the US Army, a defence contractor, and an intelligence officer for several agencies within the US Intelligence Community. He is also the author of For You the War is Over: American POWs in Nazi Germany During World War II, a history of the tenure of a Director of National Intelligence, and numerous book reviews. He lives in the greater Raleigh, North Carolina area.
Industry Reviews
"...the author collates a substantial amount of relevant information about Willoughby's participation in major Pacific Theater campaigns..."-- "The Vanguard: Journal of the Military Intelligence Corps Association"
"...an important book about two flawed senior leaders. It highlights the problem of politicization of intelligence by egotistic leaders and provides a useful analysis of the times of World War II and Korea."-- "Intelligencer: Journal of U.S. Intelligence Studies"
"This is a long-overdue biography of one of the staff officers who had the most influence on MacArthur, and the many readers who are interested in the latter's career during the period from 1941 to 1951 will find much to enjoy within its pages."-- "The Journal of America's Military Past"
" ...provides critical texture to a historical figure often left pilloried without full context. The balanced treatment of a complex, flawed leader is valuable to understanding MacArthur's command and an instructive lesson for today's intelligence professionals and those who rely on intelligence to guide their decisions."-- "Aether: A Journal of Strategic Airpower & Spacepower"
"Foy brings to readers a great deal of information on Willoughby as an intelligence officer."-- "Studies in Intelligence"
"Enjoyed it."-- "Historical Miniatures Gaming Society"
"...the first-ever biography of General Willoughby's creative legacy of loyalty to his superiors, questioning how far that loyalty should have extended, while examining how Willoughby walked the tightrope involving telling truth to power."-- "ARGunners.com"
"Although a fascinating biography in its own right [this book] seems particularly timely and relevant given the new revelations about how the current command structure of the U.S. Military was able (and had to) to resist the unlawful and deadly dangerous attempts of Donald Trump to unconstitutionally use the military as his own personal instrument for insuring the continuation of his power and authority as a President and Commander-in-Chief before and after an insurrection."-- "Midwest Book Review"
