General Douglas MacArthur
General Douglas MacArthur was one of the most brilliant yet controversial people in the military. He was distinguished not only in his early career, but also in the two world wars and in the Korean War. His dedicated and will to pursue a goal and keep a dream was incredible. He was a model for dedication for a cause. He may have been one of the best generals this country has ever had.
Douglas MacArthur was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on January 26, 1880, and died on April 5, 1964. He was a great military leader and had a short history of family in the military. His father, Lieutenant General Arthur MacArthur, won a Medal of Honor. He was a hero of the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine Insurrection. This may have caused his son to be interested in the military and pursue a goal in that area. Douglas MacArthur graduated from West Point in 1903 with the highest honors in his graduating class. One of his first assignments was in the occupation of Veracruz, Mexico in 1914. He received his assignment because of success in early assignments such as serving in the Philippines and being an aide to President Theodore Roosevelt. But this was only the start of a gallant career.
MacArthur played a large role in World War I. He gained the title chief of staff, brigade leader, and then commander of the 42nd Division of the Allied Expeditionary Force in France, where he was wounded for the first time. But he also distinguished himself. After serving in Koblenz, Germany, he came back to the United States and became superintendent at West Point from 1919 to 1922. At West Point, he raised academic standards and reorganized the athletic program. In the 1920�s, he held two Philippine commands, two corps area commands, and was the head of the U.S. Olympic Committee in 1928. After he became army chief of staff in 1930, he was promoted to general. He was criticized for carrying out President Hoover�s orders to expel the Bonus Army from Washington, D. C. in 1932. The harshness of his actions made him a controversial figure. He operated the army during the Great Depression very efficiently, considering the massive unemployment level and lack of jobs. In 1935, he was given the role of military advisor to the Philippines, and in 1936 he was named field marshal of the Philippine Army by the Philippine President Manuel Quezon. MacArthur retired from the United States Army in 1937 and attempted to build up the strength of the Philippine Army until 1941 despite having almost no funds at all.
When the U.S. had the threat of a possible world war, MacArthur was called into active duty by Franklin Roosevelt in 1941. In 1942 MacArthur had a great defense on Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor Island when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. He was soon ordered to Australia to become supreme allied commander on the Southwest Pacific theater. MacArthur was given the Medal of Honor for his outstanding leadership and abilities in the Philippines. A few months later, he attacked the enemy in Papua, New Guinea, in an assignment that he used land, sea, and air forces to outsmart and outfight the enemy. He also succeeded by bypassing Japanese forces in a campaign through the Solomon, Bismarck, and Admiralty Islands. At Pearl Harbor, he had a meeting with Roosevelt and received approval to reconquer the Philippines. In this meeting, he expressed his idea that his superiors were emphasizing the war in Europe so greatly. His troops were invaded, but still he defeated the Japanese on Luzon in 1945. In April of 1945, MacArthur had been named commander of all U.S. Army forces in the Pacific. Four months earlier, he was promoted to the five-star rank. He accepted the surrender of Japan on the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945. He directed the Allied occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1951 tyrannically but successfully. He initiated reforms like land redistribution, disarmament, and introducing a liberal constitution. After World War II, it seemed like MacArthur had gained all the awards and success a military officer could have.
In 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea, MacArthur was named supreme United Nations commander. Even though he didn�t have many troops and they were poorly trained, the stopped the enemy advance near Pusan. The Chinese Army invaded South Korea in November of that year, and MacArthur stopped it in the spring of 1951. He disagreed with his superiors in calling for aggressive action. He bombarded the Chinese bases in Manchuria to destroy communism in the Far East. When he let public officials know of his ideas, President Truman charged MacArthur with insubordination and relieved him of command in April 11, 1951. This was the last participation he had with the army, but he still used public speaking.
When he came back to the United States, MacArthur defended his actions and views in a speech to Congress in April of 1951. Some Republicans tried to nominate him for the presidency in 1952 but were unsuccessful. For the remainder of his 12 years of his life, he lived in New York City. He spoke out about public issues and was consulted by every U.S. president in that time period. He completed his Reminiscences just before his death.
Although many people saw him as aloof, egotistical, and imperious, he could be and often was warmhearted, human, and witty. Many people thought he was courageous, intelligent, strongly dedicated to the country, and possessed the gift of great command ability. If he had been a little less aggressive, he might have had a longer military career, but that might have also denied him of some of the achievements he had in his life. It is the dedication and leadership that made him a great army officer. And, hopefully, many people will follow him in that area for years to come.