1 Memo, G. C.M. for OPD, 19 :lug
42, Tab 25b, 1trm 1, Exec 5.
2 Secretary Stimson, it may be noted,
was himself bitter over the decision to land
in North Africa, and had told the President
exactly how he felt about the matter. His example
doubtless had the effect of encouraging officers
in the War Department to express their doubts
and dissatisfaction. For the Secretary's views,
his statement of them to the President, and
the suspension of his relations with the White
House for several months thereafter, see his
own account. (Stimson and Bundy, On Active
Service, pp. 420-26.)
3 Pers ltr, Dill to Marshall, 8 Aug
42, WDCSA TORCH, 1.
4 Pers ltr, Marshall to Dill, 14 Aug
42, WDCSA TORCH, 1. This file also contains
a first draft by General Handy, corrected in
Marshall's hand. The draft contains a much
fuller exposition of the credo of the Army
planning staff. (Both versions of the principal
passage changed by Marshall are given in Cline,
Washington Command Post, p. 165n.1
5 Pers ltr cited n. 3.
6 Pers ltr cited n. 4.
7 General Marshall and his staff continud
to revert to the points made in CCS 94 dealing
with the strategic implications of TORCH-that
it was defensive in purpose and not intended
to help the USSR. (1) Min, 38th mtg CCS, 28
Aug 42. (2) OPD study [prepared about the end
of Aug 42J, title: Resume of Chronological
Developments of our Bsc Strategy, with JCS
152 in ABC 381 (9-25-41), 3.
8 For Fellers' views, sec above, Ch.
XI. For his recall, see: (1) ltr, WD to Maxwell,
20 Jun 42, sub: Ltr of Instns, OPD 384 Africa,
12; (2) msg, Marshall to Maxwell, 27 Jun 42,
CM-OUT 6697 (R) ; (3) msg, Maxwell to Marshall,
27 Jun 42, CM-IN 8926 (R) ; (4) msg, same to
same, 7 Jul 42, CM-IV 2659 (7/8/42) (R), and
subsequent comment thereon in memo, no sig,
for Wedemeyer, 26 Sep 42, no sub, ABC 381 Middle
East (3-1042), 1-B, 8; (5) msg (originator
OPD) Marshall to Maxwell, 10 Jul 42, CM-OUT
2774; and (6) stf correspondence filed OPD
319.1 Africa, 13.
9 The President stated that Fellers
had recommended sending ten bombers a day to
Egypt, even though they were of little use
against vehicles in the desert. (Memo, Secy
JCS for U. S. JCS, 1 Aug 42, sub: totes of
Conf Held at White House at 8 : 30 P. M., Jul
30, 1942, ABC 381 (7-25-421, 4-B, 79.)
10 Memo cited n. 9.
11 Memo, CofS for President [4 Aug
42], sub: Air Reinforcement Middle East and
Aid to Russia, WDCSA 381, 1. The memorandum
was drafted by General Streett. The conflict
between the requirements of TORCH and the scheduled
reinforcement of the Middle East was currently
under study by the War Department. (Sec above,
Ch. XII)
12 For Marshall's conciliatory policy,
sec above, Chs. IX and XI.
13 Sec first draft of study, title:
Detailed Consideration of Memo for McCloy .
. . , incl with memo, OPD for CofS, 21 Aug
42, sub: Memo from Fellers to McCloy, re Importance
of Middle East, OPD Middle East, 26.
See also (1 ) note, Deane to Marshall, 12
Aug 42, and (2) note, GCM to Handy, n.d., both
in WDCS:1 Middle East (S) : (31 the first study
in OPD was memo [four members of Strategy Sec]
for Wedemeyer, n.d., sub: Analysis of Col Fellers'
Study . . . , Tab IV, ABC 381 Middle East (3-10-42),1-B.
A dissent was entered by the chief of the Strategy
Section, Col. Frank . Roberts, who was "inclined
to go against my experts in the section, and
to recommend that the 300 [bombers] be sent
to ME." ;Informal memo, F. '.V. R. for
Wedemeyer, n.d., Tab IV, ABC 381 Middle East
(3-10-421, 1-B.) The study submitted to Marshall
(quoted in the text and cited above) went to
McCloy with Fellers' memo, as an OPD study
and not as a communication from the Chief of
Staff, but Marshall first gave it a thorough
editing all the same. (See corrected drafts
filed OPD 381 Middle East, 26 and WDCS.4 Middle
East (S)
14 These conflicts are discussed in
Ch. XIV, blow.
15 See above, pp. 256 ff.
16 Memo, King for CofS, 14 Jul 42,
sub: Prospective Needs of AA Arty Units in
SPA, OPD 320.2 PTO, 20.
17 Memo, King for CofS, 15 Jul 42,
sub: Garrison Forces for Solomon Islands Area,
OPD 320.2 PTO, 21.
18 Memo, Col Ritchie for Gen Handy,
15 Jul 42, sub: Memo from King to Marshall
Ref Garrison Forces for Solomon Islands Area.
(2) :Memo, CofS for King, 16 Jul 42, sub cited
n. 17. Both in OPD 320.2 PTO, 21.
19 See memo, OPD for CofS, 1 7 Jul
42, sub ailed n. 17, OPD 320.2 PTO, 21. This
memorandum also listed the first steps taken
to carry out the plan. For later steps, sec
papers filed OPD 370.5 Fiji, 10.
20 (1) Memo, OPD for CofS, 23 Jul
42, sub: AA Regts for Solomon Islands Area.
l2 ; Memo, DCofS for King, 28 Jul 42, same
sub. Both in OPD 320.2 PTO, 21.
21 Memo, Vice Adm Russell Wilson for
[Actg] CofS, 22 Jul 42, sub: Reinforcements
for Holding Occupied Positions in S Pacific,
OPD 320.2 PTO, 30.
22 (1) Memo, OPD for [Actg] CofS,
24 Jul 42, sub cited n. 21. (21 Ltr [Actg]
CofS to King, 27
Jul 42, same sub. Both in OPD 320.2 PTO,
30.
23 Par e, CCS 94, 24 Jul 42.
24 Memo, King for CofS, 1 Aug 42,
sub cited n. 21, OPD 320.2 PTO, 37.
25 Msg (originator OPD), Marshall
to Emmons, 4 Aug 42, CM-OUT 1424 (8/5/42) (R).
26 (1) Memo, OPD for CofS, 5 Aug 42,
sub cited n. 21, OPD 320.2 PTO, 37. (2) Informal
memo, G. F. S. [Col George F. Schulgen] for
CofS, 8 Aug 42, sub: Reinforcements for Pacific
Area, atchd to memo cited (1) .
27 Informal memo, G. C. M. for Handy,
atchd to memo cited n. 26 (1) .
28 For accounts of the Marine landings
on Guadalcanal, see: (1) Miller, Guadalcanal,
Ch. III, and (2) Samuel Eliot Morison, The
Struggle for Guadalcanal: August 1942-February
1943 (Boston, Little, Brown and Company, 1949),
Chs. I and II.
29 Memo, King for Marshall, 8 Aug
42, sub: Minimum Army Reinforcements Necessary
to Provide Adequate Garrisons for Present Bases,
to Conduct Opns Incident to Tasks Two and Three,
and to Relieve Amph Units in Seized Areas,
OPD 320.2 PTO, 3 7.
30 (1) Msg (originator OPD), Marshall
to Harmon, 8 Aug 42, CM-OUT 2412. (2) See msg
(originator OPD), Marshall to Harmon, 4 Aug
42, CM-OUT 0253, for the earlier reminder.
The only additional units due to be sent were
air service units needed to operate the mobile
air force in the South Pacific. (3) For Harmon's
views, see in particular, ltr, CG USAFISPA
to COMSOPAC, 4 Aug 42, sub: Tr Disposition
and Re-enforcement,
OPD 320.2 PTO, 71.
31 For Tasks Two and Three, see above,
pp. 262-63.
32 (1) Draft memo [OPD for CofS],
10 Aug 42, sub: Minimum Army Reinforcements
. . . . (2) Memo, OPD for SGS, 29 Aug 42, sub:
Memos from COMINCH Dated Aug 1 and Aug 8 .
. . . Both in OPD 320.2 PTO, 37.
33 (1) Msg (originator OPD), Marshall
to Harman, 9 Aug 42, CM-OUT 2792 (R). (2) Msg,
same to same, 10 Aug 42, CM-OUT 3043 (R). (3)
Msg (originator OPD), Marshall to MacArthur,
10 Aug 42, CM-OUT 3042 (R). For follow-up,
see msg, MacArthur to Marshall, 12 Aug 42,
CM-IN 4236 (R), and msg (originator OPD), Marshall
to MacArthur, 12 Aug 42, CM-OUT 4048.
34 Pers ltr, Marshall to Eisenhower,
30 Jul 42, filed under Eisenhower, D.D., in
G.C.M. file. It is to be inferred that he did
not show this letter to his staff, nor at that
time discuss with the staff (or with anyone
else) his interpretation of the passage in
CCS 94. General Marshall later made this explanation
to the other members of the JCS. (See (1) min,
JCS 32d mtg, 8 Sep 42, and (2) min, JCS 36th
mtg, 6 Oct 42.)
35 Memo, King for CofS, 13 Aug 42,
sub: Reinforcements for S Pacific and Hawaiian
Areas, OPD 320.2 PTO, 37.
36 (1) Informal memo, Arnold for Kuter,
14 Aug 42, sub: Mvmt of the 90th Hv Bomb Gp
to Hawaii, OPD 370.5 Hawaii, 24. (2) Msg (originator
OPD), Marshall to Emmons, 14 Aug 42, CM-OUT
4798 (8/15/42) (R).
On 15 August the operations staff issued
a directive, and an 18 August orders, for its
movement. See memo, OPD for AAF, 15 Aug 42,
sub: Asgmt of Hv Bomb Gp to Seventh Air Force,
OPD 370.5 Hawaii, 24, and memo, OPD for TAG,
18 Aug 42, sub: Mvmt Orders, Shipt No. 6006,
OPD 370.5 Hawaii, 23.
37 (1) Memo, OPD for CofS, 15 Aug
42, sub cited n. 35. (2) OPD draft memo, CofS
for King, n.d., same sub. This memo bears changes
in Marshall's hand. Both in OPD 320.2 PTO,
37.
38 (1) Memo, King for CofS, 31 Jul
42, sub: Japanese Opns NE Coast of New Guinea,
OPD 381 SWPA, 92. (2) For the War Department's
immediate compliance, see msg (originator OPD),
Marshall to MacArthur, 31 Jul 42, CM-OUT 9289.
(3) Notification that the above message had
been sent is in memo, CofS for King, n.d.,
sub cited above (I1, OPD 381 SWPA, 92.
39 Msg MacArthur to Marshall, 3 Aug
42, CM-IN 1607. A copy went to King, who dealt
with it in memo cited n. 29. At Marshall's
direction, a brief of this message was sent
to the President. See (11 note, G. C. M. on
copy of CM-IN 1607, filed Item 23a, Exec 10,
and (2) memo, CofS for President, 6 Au g 42,
sub: Opns in SW Pacific, OPD 381 SWPA, 95.
40 Memo, CofS for King, 14 Aug 42,
sub: Early Initiation of Limited Task Two,
OPD 381 PTO, 84. This represents a revision
of a draft by OPD. See draft, with Marshall's
corrections, in Item 67a, Exec 10.
41 Memo, King for CofS, 15 Aug 42,
sub cited n. 40, Item 67a, Exec 10. Attached
is the draft message to send to MacArthur and
Ghor7nley. The memorandum itself bears a note
from Brig. Gen. John R. Deane (SGS) that the
message as drafted was dispatched on 15 August.
42 Memo, King for CofS, 20 Aug 42,
sub cited n. 40, OPD 370.5 PTO, 9. A list of
the reinforcements requested came with the
memorandum as Inclosure B. The ground reinforcements
requested by Harman included two infantry divisions,
three antiaircraft regiments, and sundry field,
coast, and antiaircraft artillery battalions,
all to be sent "as early as practicable."
His most urgent demands for air reinforcements
were for three fighter squadrons and plane
replacements in all categories.
43 Memo, Arnold for CofS, 21 Aug 42,
sub: NAf Opns, Item 67b, Exec 10.
44 Note, WDL [Leahy] to Marshall [22
Aug 42], Item 67b, Exec 10.
45 Sec memo, CofS for King, 24 Aug
42, sub cited n. 40, OPD 370.5 PTO, 9, which
is in answer to memo cited n. 42, containing
simply a reference to memo, CofS for COMINCH
[21 Aug 42], sub cited n. 35, OPD 320.2 PTO,
37. This last memo is based on memo cited n.
37 ( I ) submitted by the staff on 15 August,
which Marshall had revised and for the time
withheld. Shortly thereafter, in a detailed
analysis of air strength in and en route to
the South and Southwest Pacific, the War Department
incorporated the policy of no further commitments
of planes to the Pacific, but adopted a still
more liberal policy on the redistribution of
planes in the Pacific by authorizing Admiral
Nimitz to shift aircraft "as necessary
to the success of the present operation."
This concession removed the inhibition on the
diversion from Hawaii of the 90th Bombardment
Group (H) . (Memo, CofS for COMINCH, 25 Aug
42, sub: Air Reinforcements for S Pacific Opns,
Item 67b, Exec 10.)
46 (1) Memo, CofS for SOS, 20 Aug
42, no sub. (2) Memo, CofS for OPD, 21 Aug
42, sub: S (and SW) Pacific. Both in OPD 370.5
PTO, 9.
47 (1 ) Memo, SOS for CofS, n.d.,
sub: Shipping Capabilities for Reinforcement
of S Central Pacific. (2) Memo, OPD for CofS,
22 Aug 42, sub: Shipping Capabilities for Reinforcement
of S Pacific, with three incls and Tabs A-E.
Both in OPD 370.5 PTO, 9. (3) Memo, AGF for
CofS (attn OPD), 22 Aug 42, sub: Add Forces,
S Pacific Theater, OPD 370.5 PTO, 14.
48 (1) Memos, OPD for AGF, AAF, and
SOS, 23 Aug 42, sub: Availability of Units
for Mvmt to Staging Areas for Overseas Destination.
(2) Memo, AGF for OPD, 27 Aug 42, same sub.
Both in OPD 370.5 PTO, 10. (3) Memos, OPD for
AGF and SOS, 27 and 28 Aug 42, sub: Directive
for Tr Mvmts. (4) Memo, AGF for OPD and SOS,
29 Aug 42, sub: Concentration Area. Last two
in OPD 370.5 PTO, 14.
49 For the substitution, see: (1)
memo streett for McNarney, 17 Aug 42, no sub,
OPD 381 PTO,85; (2) memo, King for CofS, 18
Aug 42, sub: Third Army Div--Relief for, Item
67a,Exec 10;and (3) memo, CofS for King, 21
Aug 42, sub: Relief of Third Div, OPD 370.5
WDC, 105.
50 The Army did undertake to give what
training it could to the 43d Division. ( I
) Memo, CofS for King, 24 Aug 42, sub cited
n. 40, OPD 370.5 PTO, 9. ( 2 ) Memos, OPD for
AGF and SOS, 10 and 14 Sep 42, sub: Change
in Directive for Tr Mvmts, OPD 370.5 PTO, 14.
51 For transactions with the Navy,
see: (1) memo, Col Leonard H. Rodieck for Gen
Streett, 23 Aug 42, sub: Availability of Navy
Shipping to SPA, OPD 370.5 PTO, 11 ; (2) memo,
CofS for CNO, 24 Aug 42, sub curd n. 40, OPD
370.5 PTO, 9; ( 3 ) memo, Col Silverthorne
for Gen Streett, 26 Aug 42, sub: Navy Ships
for Mvmt 43d Div, OPD 370.5 PTO, 12: and (4)
memo, King for CofS, 26 Aug 42, sub: Transportation
of 13,000 Army Trs, OPD 381 PTO, 84.
52 Msg (originator OPD), Marshall
to MacArthur, 28 Aug 42, CM-OUT 8981 (R). The
War Department asked MacArthur to recommend
in what priority to send the units allocated
to him. A full list of units the War Department
had intended to send MacArthur is contained
in memo, OPD for CINCSWPA, 10 Aug 42, sub:
Add Units Authorized for L:. S. Forces in Australia,
OPD 320.2 Australia, 53. This memo was drawn
up to be delivered to MacArthur by Maj. Gen.
Robert L. Eichelberger. MacArthur had been
told to expect this memorandum in msg, Marshall
to MacArthur, 8 Aug 42, CM-OUT 2515 (R).
53 (1) Msg (originator OPD), Marshall
to Harmon, 30 Aug 42, CM-OUT 9541 (R). (2)
On 4 September, not having received an answer,
the War Department asked for confirmation.
Msg (originator OPD), same to same, 4 Sep 42,
CM-OUT 1397 (R).
54 See memo, OPD for AGF and SOS,
5 Sep 42, sub: Directive for Tr Mvmts, OPD
370.5 PTO 13: and memos, OPD for TAG, 5 and
7 Sep 42, sub: Mvmt Orders, Shipt Nos. 5181
and 4092, and OPD for TAG, 9 Sep 42, sub: Mvmt
Orders, Shipt Nos 5181, 4092 and 4806, both
in OPD 370.5 PTO, 14. These orders were later
modified, to ship direct to a the 172d Regimental
Combat Team of the 43d Division, along with
a harbor defense unit that General Harmon intended
to transship to Espiritu Santo (in the New
Hebrides). See (1) msg (originator OPD), Marshall
to Harmon, 14 Sep 42, CM-OUT 5196 (9/15/42)
(R) ; (2) msg, same to same, 17 Sep 42, CM-OUT
5990 (R); (3) memo, OPD for AGF and SOS, 17
Sep 42, sub: Change in Directive for Tr Mvmts,
OPD 370.5 PTO, 14: and (4) memo, Silverthorne
for Handy, 17 Sep 42, sub: Action and Info,
Pacific Theater Sec, OPD 370.5 PTO, 20.
55 For an account of the operations
at Guadalcanal, see: (1) Miller, Guadalcanal,
and (2) Morison, Struggle for Guadalcanal.