The giant Douglas XC-132, what could have been

A design that I think that may have made a big difference to the US Military, especially the US Army, that was never to unfortunately eventuate was the Douglas Model 1814 / XC-132 Long-range, heavy transport / cargo aircraft.
This aircraft was started in 1951 under the title of program ‘SS-402L’ ‘Heavy Airlift Transport’
This massive and potential transport, would have given the USAF and US Army a transport aircraft the likes and capability of that of the Soviet Antonov An-22 ‘Cook’.
But due to problems with the development of its Pratt & Whitney XT57 turboprop design of 15,000 shp each (which I think was not pursued, through more want and fascination with straight turbojets of the time) the entire program was cancelled.
I wonder if it would have been cancelled, had the US Military known that its lift-capability and range would be in such demand in Vietnam.
Instead the USAF would have to rely on older, slower and less capable and efficient types like the Douglas C-124 Globmaster and Douglas C-133 Cargomaster, which would have to soldier on until the arrival of the truly strategic Lockheed C-5A Galaxy.