General Douglas MacArthur was always one to play politics, especially should it advance his career. And, getting a Congressman a medal surely wouldn't hurt that.
I think Lt. Robert R. Hatch probably had orders to return to base in the event any enemy planes were spotted. It sure wouldn't do to have the life of a Congressman ended under your orders.
Unfortunately, Lt. Hatch was killed a short time later, so we will never know what he had to say about it.
Johnson got his Silver Star and MacArthur had a valuable ally in Congress.
--GreGen
My Cooter's History Blog has become about 80% World War II anyway, so I figured to start a blog specific to it, especially since we're commemorating its 70th anniversary and we are quickly losing this "Greatest Generation." The quote is taken from Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Curre, who was on the USS Tennessee that day. He died Dec. 7, 2011, seventy years to the day. His photo is below at right.
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