DVIDS – News – Historian Highlights permanent legacy of the Pacific Asian campaign of the US Army at Lanpac

Summary: Dr. John McManus, a renowned military historian, kept a main speech on the symposium of the Land Forces Pacific (Lanpac), which is a historical perspective on the role of the US Army in the Asian-Pacific theater during the Second World War. Dr. McManus focused on the invasion of Luzon in 1945 and emphasized the scale and complexity of the campaign, the challenges of logistics and the coordination between the service, the decisive support of the Filipino population and the permanent legacy of war for both the United States and in the Asian-Pacific region. Dr. McManus' speech served to contextualize many of the modern challenges that were discussed throughout the symposium.

Topics and news:
● The extent of the Army's Asian-Pacific commitment: The US Army has committed a massive force to the Asian-Pacific theater, with over 1.8 million ground troops served by the end of the Second World War.
● Logistic challenges: Overcoming the obstacle to removal and creating robust supply lines were of crucial importance for the success.
● The importance of alliances: The United States was strongly based on alliances with partners such as Australia and New Zealand as well as the support of the Filipino people.
● The human war costs: the liberation of the Philippines cost enormous costs, with tens of thousands of Filipino civilians lost their lives.
● Permanent legacy: The war has a lasting influence on the Asian-Pacific region, including postcolonial disputes, the rise of communism and the formation of permanent alliances.
● The continuing relevance of soil combat: Despite technological advances, the land struggle continues to take into account the majority of US victims in conflicts since World War II.

Key quotes:
● “At the end of the war (Second World War), around 1.8 million army soldiers will serve in the Pacific Asian theater … This is the third largest military force that this country has ever sent to overseas for every purpose, let alone wage a war.”
● “Filipino civilians and others who only work to help with the logistics page to move deliveries, unload freight, build airfields, so on and so on, in addition to a largely friendly population, that is a great power multiplicator.”
● “Speaking of alliances, at the end of the Second World War, we had an alliance structure that is still there today? And in particular, I would refer to some, some very, very close alliances with Australia and New Zealand that come from the Second World War very much.”

Q&A highlights:
● Lessons for future common strength: Dr. McManus emphasized the importance of learning from the success and mistakes of the past, promoting joints and coordination between the service and the care of cultural understanding.
● The largest armored battle in the Philippines: Dr. McManus confirmed that the Japanese initiated an important tank attack in Luzon, but they were exceeded by the better equipped and organized American armed forces.