Dug-out Doug
[nb: In the midst of the Battle of Bataan, on 11 March 1942,
President Roosevelt required that General Douglas MacArthur be
spirited out of the Philippines by PT boat and airplane. This
flight from the battlefield was characterized as a "relocation of
headquarters" to a more secure venue; and included Manual Quezon,
the president of the Philippines, and selected allied staff, not
omitting MacArthur's family with their Chinese amah and pet
monkey ... but lacking space for other worthies, such as
civilians and nurses, who were interned until rescued at the end
of the war. The political mistakes that attempted to emend the
military mistakes complicating operations in the Pacific Theater
only exacerbated and compounded them. It has often been noted
that MacArthur's "genius" was diminished by his arrogance and
obstinence. Although MacArthur never obeyed an order he disagreed
with, he expected others to faithfully obey him, attempting to
take revenge (even after the war) on those he deemed disloyal or
insubordinate, he obeyed this directive with which he disagreed
from a commander-in-chief with whom he disagreed. The original
allusion to "dug-out Doug" was a disdainful reference to him
commanding from a protected underground location, a bunker or
'dug-out'. So although the alliteration characterizing this
flight now seems affected, that's only because we, with the
benefit of hindsight, have a comparison for a word (bug-out) that
hadn't been invented at the time; therefore, the correct
historical reference for this mandatory evacuation from the
Philippines is "dug-out Doug", which was common at the time,
despite being unsympathetic and disrespectful.] [nb: "A
FilAmerican force of 140,000 men had been defeated. More than
seven million Filipinos had been enslaved by the invader
[Imperial Japan]. The United States had failed in its political
and moral commitment to defend the Philippines, and more than
20,000 American officers and enlisted men had been either killed
or captured [when the war broke out]. It was the worst military
defeat in the history of the US armed forces." by John Jacob Beck
MacArthur and Wainwright: Sacrifice of the Philippines]
[nb: just as sports cards and redemption coupons were included in
select brands of cigarettes during the post-WWII era, a morale
card featuring the motto "I shall return" and a picture of
General Douglas MacArthur was enclosed in packs of "Lucky Strike"
cigarettes during WWII as a reminder of his promise on behalf of
America's commitment; George C. Marshall suggested that the
phrase be depersonalized by stating "We shall return", but
MacArthur summarily dismissed it]
Dugout Doug
by Henry G. Lee [parody sung to the tune of "The Battle Hymn of
the Republic" (1942)]
Dugout Doug MacArthur lies ashaking on the Rock
Safe from all the bombers and from any sudden shock
Dugout Doug is eating of the best food on Bataan
And his troops go starving on.
Dugout Doug's not timid, he's just cautious, not afraid
He's protecting carefully the stars that Franklin made
Four-star generals are rare as good food on Bataan
And his troops go starving on.
We've fought the war the hard way since they said the fight was
on
All the way from Lingayen to the hills of old Bataan
And we'll continue fighting after dugout Doug is gone
And still go starving on.
Dugout Doug
anonymous [parody sung to the tune of "The Battle Hymn of the
Republic" (1942)]
Dugout Doug MacArthur lies ashaking on The Rock,
Safe from all the bombers and from any sudden shock,
Dugout Doug is eating of the best food on Bataan,
And his troops go starving on.
Glory, glory, it ain't for him we die,
May our bare bones refute his lies,
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His troops go starving on.
We have seen him in the flickering of ten-thousand
cigarettes,
We have seen him scurry between dug-in barbettes,
Dugout Doug MacArthur lies ashaking on The Rock,
And his troops go starving on.
Glory, glory, it ain't for him we die,
May our bare bones refute his lies,
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His troops go starving on.
Dugout Doug
anonymous Marine in the Philippines (1942)
Mine eyes have seen MacArthur
With a Bible on his knee,
He is pounding out communiqués
For guys like you and me,
And while possibly a rumor now,
Someday 'twill be a fact,
That the Lord will hear a deep voice
Say, "Move over God, it's Mac!"
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