This is the service summary of Douglas MacArthur, a
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
in the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
, who began his career in 1903 as a
second lieutenant and served in three major military conflicts, going on to hold the highest military offices of both the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
and the
Philippines
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
.
History
Chronology and summary of military service
West Point
*13 June 1899 – appointed as a
cadet
A cadet is a student or trainee within various organisations, primarily in military contexts where individuals undergo training to become commissioned officers. However, several civilian organisations, including civil aviation groups, maritime ...
at the
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...
,
West Point, New York
West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States. Located on the Hudson River in New York (state), New York, General George Washington stationed his headquarters in West Point in the summer and fall of 1779 durin ...
.
*1900: Is the victim of
hazing
Hazing (American English), initiation, beasting (British English), bastardisation (Australian English), ragging (South Asian English) or deposition refers to any activity expected of someone in joining or participating in a group that humiliates, ...
and becomes involved in a serious scandal where one cadet is left dead by upperclassman abuse. During the investigation he implicates only cadets who were already expelled from West Point or had previously confessed.
*11 June 1903 – Graduates first in his class, commissioned as a
second lieutenant in the
Corps of Engineers
Early career
*October 1903: Serves with Company I, 3rd Battalion of Engineers in the Philippine Islands.
*November 1903: Ambushed by two Filipino
brigands
Brigandage is the life and practice of highway robbery and plunder. It is practiced by a brigand, a person who is typically part of a gang and lives by pillage and robbery.Oxford English Dictionary second edition, 1989. "Brigand.2" first record ...
or guerrillas while constructing a wharf in
Guimaras
Guimaras (), officially the Province of Guimaras (; ), is an island province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. The capital is Jordan, while the largest local government unit is the municipality of Buenavista. The provin ...
. He shot and killed both of them.
*April 1904: Promoted to
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment.
The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a se ...
.
*November 1904: Becomes assistant to Chief Engineering Officer for the Army Pacific Division in
San Francisco, California
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
.
*January 1905: Assigned to the
California Debris Commission The California Debris Commission was a federal commission created in 1893 by an act of Congress to regulate California streams that had been devastated by the sediment washed into them from gold mining operations upstream in the Sierra Nevada. It wa ...
until October 1905.
*Acting Chief Engineer Officer, Pacific Division, July 1905 to October 1905.
*November 1905: Reports to Tokyo, Japan to serve as an aide to his father (Major General
Arthur MacArthur, Jr.
Arthur MacArthur Jr. (June 2, 1845 – September 5, 1912) was a lieutenant general of the United States Army. He became the military Governor-General of the American-occupied Philippines in 1900; his term ended a year later due to clashes wi ...
) in the
Far East
The Far East is the geographical region that encompasses the easternmost portion of the Asian continent, including North Asia, North, East Asia, East and Southeast Asia. South Asia is sometimes also included in the definition of the term. In mod ...
. Sees service in numerous locations in the Far East.
*August 1906: Takes three month furlough. Returns to United States.
*November 1906: Assigned to 2nd Engineer Battalion at
Washington Barracks
Fort Lesley J. McNair, also historically known as the Washington Arsenal, is a United States Army post located on the tip of Buzzard Point, the peninsula that lies at the confluence of the Potomac River and the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C ...
.
*December 1906: Serves as
aide-de-camp to
President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), also known as Teddy or T.R., was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt previously was involved in New York (state), New York politics, incl ...
*August 1907: Attends the
Engineering School of Application in Washington, D.C. Graduates 28 February 1908.
*March 1908: Assigned as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC), Improvements Commission,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...
*April 1908: Appointed as commanding officer, Company K, 3rd Battalion of Engineers. Later that year becomes an instructor at the Mounted Service School,
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Ge ...
,
Kansas
Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
*April 1909: Becomes Quartermaster for the 3rd Battalion of Engineers.
*27 February 1911: Promoted to captain and serves as the Officer-in-Charge of the Engineering Depot at
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth () is a United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, in the city of Leavenworth, Kansas, Leavenworth. Built in 1827, it is the second oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C., an ...
, Kansas.
*April 1913: Appointed as superintendent of the
State, War, and Navy Building in Washington, D.C.
*25 September 1913: Assigned to the General Staff Corps, for duty as a member and recorder of the Board of Engineering Troops.
*April 1914: Becomes the assistant engineering officer of the
military expedition
Expeditionary warfare is a military invasion of a foreign territory, especially away from established bases. Expeditionary forces were in part the antecedent of the modern concept of rapid deployment forces. Traditionally, expeditionary forces we ...
to
Veracruz, Mexico
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Located in east ...
. Conducts an unauthorized reconnaissance mission during which he engages in three gun fights in which he kills a total of seven Mexicans.
*11 December 1915: Promoted to major, serves as an engineering officer on the Army General Staff.
World War I
*10 August 1917: Becomes chief of staff of the
42nd Division and is credited with naming it the "Rainbow Division".
*11 August 1917: Promoted to the temporary rank of
colonel
Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
in the
National Army. Reports to Camp Mills,
Long Island
Long Island is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New York (state), New York state, extending into the Atlantic Ocean. It constitutes a significant share of the New York metropolitan area in both population and land are ...
,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
New York may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* ...
to begin forming the
42nd Division.
*November 1917: Departs U.S. for France and joins the
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) was a formation of the United States Armed Forces on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front during World War I, composed mostly of units from the United States Army, U.S. Army. The AEF was establis ...
.
*26 June 1918: Appointed a
brigadier general in the National Army and in August is appointed as commander of the 84th Infantry Brigade, which is part of the 42nd Division. Briefly commands the 42nd Division from 10 to 22 November 1918.
*1918 – 1919: Receives two Distinguished Service Crosses and seven Silver Star Citations (later converted to
Silver Star
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against a ...
s) for battlefield leadership and bravery and also is wounded in action and gassed by the enemy. Was known for personally leading troops into battle, often without a weapon of his own. Begins to develop a negative relationship with
General of the Armies
General of the Armies of the United States, more commonly referred to as General of the Armies, is the highest military rank in the United States. The rank has been conferred three times: to John J. Pershing in 1919, as a personal accolade fo ...
John Pershing
General of the Armies John Joseph Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948), nicknamed "Black Jack", was an American army general, educator, and founder of the Pershing Rifles. He served as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forc ...
, after feeling that Pershing is wasting the lives of his troops with bad military tactics.
*May 1919: Returns to the United States as a hero, but is distraught over the lack of recognition his Rainbow Division receives for actions in France.
Inter-war years
*12 June 1919: Becomes the Superintendent of the
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...
,
West Point
The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...
.
[Cullum's Register of Graduates of the USMA. Vol. VII pg. 576.]
*20 January 1920: Appointed as a brigadier general in the
Regular Army
A regular army is the official army of a state or country (the official armed forces), contrasting with irregular forces, such as volunteer irregular militias, private armies, mercenaries, etc. A regular army usually has the following:
* a ...
.
Is one of the few officers who retain their wartime rank. Receives a negative evaluation report from Pershing, now Chief of Staff, who ranks Macarthur 38 out of 45 generals and states that MacArthur has an "exalted view of himself and should remain in his present grade for several years".
*February 1922: Married socialite
Louise Cromwell Brooks
Louise Cromwell (born Henrietta Louise Cromwell; September 24, 1890 – May 30, 1965) was an American socialite whose four marriages included seven years as the first wife of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. She was "considered one of W ...
in Palm Beach, Florida.
*1 November 1922: Becomes Commanding General, District of Manila, in the
Philippines
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
.
*29 June 1923: While still serving as District of Manila Commander, also becomes commander of the 23rd Infantry Brigade.
*18 November 1924: Assigned as commander of the
Philippine Division.
*17 January 1925: Promoted to
major general, becoming the youngest two-star general in the U.S. Army.
*1 February 1925: Returns to the United States to become a corps commander.
*1 May 1925: Assigned as 4th Corps Area Commander, encompassing the southeastern states with headquarters in
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
.
Quickly reassigned as local residents did not welcome MacArthur because his father was a Union officer during the Civil War.
*25 July 1925: Relieved of assignment as 4th Corps Area Commander.
*1 August 1925 – 3 September 1928: Serves as 3rd Corps Area Commander, with headquarters in
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...
.
*November to December 1925: Serves as a member of the
court martial
A court-martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the mili ...
of Brigadier General
Billy Mitchell
William Lendrum Mitchell (December 29, 1879 – February 19, 1936) was a United States Army officer who had a major role in the creation of the United States Air Force.
Mitchell served in France during World War I and, by the conflict's end, ...
.
*16 September 1927 to 1928: Serves as president of the
American Olympic Committee
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) for the United States. It was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado ...
. Leads the United States
Olympic Team to
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...
in August 1928.
*1 October 1928: Assigned as the Commanding General of the
Philippine Department
The Philippine Department (Filipino: ''Kagawaran ng Pilipinas/Hukbong Kagawaran ng Pilipinas'') was a regular United States Army organization whose mission was to defend the Philippine Islands and train the Philippine Army. On 9 April 1942, duri ...
, with headquarters in Manila.
*1929: Divorces his wife Louise due to mutual incompatibility.
*2 October 1930: Becomes the commander of the Ninth Corps Area with headquarters at the
Presidio
A presidio (''jail, fortification'') was a fortified base established by the Spanish Empire mainly between the 16th and 18th centuries in areas under their control or influence. The term is derived from the Latin word ''praesidium'' meaning ''pr ...
of San Francisco,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
.
*21 November 1930: Appointed by President Hoover as
Chief of Staff of the United States Army
The chief of staff of the Army (CSA) is a statutory position in the United States Army held by a general officer. As the highest-ranking officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, the chief is the principal military advisor and a ...
and promoted to the rank of
general
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
on the same date.
*1931: Proposes the
Army General Staff Badge but it is not approved by the
War Department War Department may refer to:
* War Department (United Kingdom)
* United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department (and occasionally War Office in the early years), was the United States Cabinet ...
until 1933.
*22 February 1932: Re-establishes the
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...
on the 200th anniversary of the birth of
George Washington
George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...
. Previously, wound chevrons were worn on the right sleeve of the uniform.
*27 February 1932: Installed as the Supreme Paramount Carabao of the
Military Order of the Carabao
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a d ...
in Washington, D.C.
*June 1932: Presides over the dispersal of the "
Bonus Army
The Bonus Army was a group of 43,000 demonstration (protest), demonstrators—17,000 veterans of United States in World War I, U.S. involvement in World War I, their families, and affiliated groups—who gathered in Washington, D.C., in mid-193 ...
", deemed a low point of his tenure as Army Chief of Staff.
*16 July 1932: Establishes the
Silver Star
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against a ...
decoration for valor in combat to replace the Silver Citation Star which was worn on the appropriate campaign medal.
*1 October 1935: Completes his tour as chief of staff and declines retirement from the army. Per Army regulations, reverts to his permanent rank of
major general.
*October 1935: Meets heiress
Jean Faircloth
Jean Marie MacArthur ( Faircloth; December 28, 1898 – January 22, 2000) was the second wife of U.S. Army General of the Army Douglas MacArthur.
Early life and education
Born Jean Marie Faircloth in Nashville, Tennessee, she was the dau ...
on his voyage to the Philippines.
*26 October 1935: Arrives in the Philippines and becomes the
Chief Military Advisor to the
Commonwealth Government of the Philippines. Makes his residence at the
Manila Hotel
The Manila Hotel is a 550-room, historic five-star hotel located along Manila Bay in Manila, Philippines. .
*3 December 1935: Mary Pinkney "Pinkie" Hardy MacArthur (b. 1852) dies in Manila.
*14 January 1936: Made a
Master Mason at Sight by Samuel R. Hawthorne, Grand Master of the Philippines. Becomes a 32nd Degree Mason later that year.
*24 August 1936: Commissioned as a
field marshal
Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army (in countries without the rank of Generalissimo), and as such, few persons a ...
in the Philippine Army. Only person to ever hold that rank in the Philippine Army. Begins wearing the
"scrambled eggs" cap often associated with his image.
*30 April 1937: Marries
Jean Faircloth
Jean Marie MacArthur ( Faircloth; December 28, 1898 – January 22, 2000) was the second wife of U.S. Army General of the Army Douglas MacArthur.
Early life and education
Born Jean Marie Faircloth in Nashville, Tennessee, she was the dau ...
in New York City.
*31 December 1937: Retires from the U.S. Army at his own request. Placed on the retired list as a four-star general.
*1 January 1938 – 25 July 1941: Civilian adviser to the Philippine Government on military matters.
*21 February 1938: Son
Arthur MacArthur IV
Arthur MacArthur IV (born February 21, 1938) is an American concert pianist and writer, and the only child of General Douglas MacArthur and Jean MacArthur. He is also the grandson of General Arthur MacArthur Jr.
Early life
Arthur MacArthur ...
is born in Manila.
World War II
=1941-1942
=
*26 July 1941: Recalled to active service in the United States Army with the rank of major general and appointed as commanding general of
United States Army Forces in the Far East
United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) (Filipino language, Filipino: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Estados Unidos sa Malayong Silangan''; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Fuerzas del Ejército de los Estados Unidos en el Lejano Oriente'') was a m ...
(USAFFE).
*27 July 1941: Commissioned as a temporary lieutenant general in the
Army of the United States
The Army of the United States was one of the four major service components of the United States Army. Today, the Army consists of the Regular Army, the Army National Guard of the United States, the Army National Guard while in the service of the ...
.
*8 December 1941:
Japanese invade the Philippines.
*18 December 1941: Promoted to four star general in the
Army of the United States
The Army of the United States was one of the four major service components of the United States Army. Today, the Army consists of the Regular Army, the Army National Guard of the United States, the Army National Guard while in the service of the ...
.
*24 December 1941: Moves headquarters from Manila to
Corregidor
Corregidor (, , ) is an island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in the southwestern part of Luzon in the Philippines, and is considered part of Cavite City and thus the province of Cavite. It is located west of Manila, the nation's capi ...
. Declares Manila an open city.
*December 1941–May 1942; Allied forces
retreat to Bataan and
Corregidor
Corregidor (, , ) is an island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in the southwestern part of Luzon in the Philippines, and is considered part of Cavite City and thus the province of Cavite. It is located west of Manila, the nation's capi ...
*15 January 1942: $500,000 from the Philippine treasury is deposited by wire into MacArthur's personal bank account. It is a gratuity to MacArthur from Philippine President
Manuel Quezon
Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina (, , , ; 19 August 1878 – 1 August 1944), also known by his initials MLQ, was a Filipino lawyer, statesman, soldier, and politician who was president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 until his d ...
for his services to the Philippines.
*22 February 1942: Ordered by President Roosevelt to leave the Philippines and go to Australia.
*12 March 1942: Departs the Philippines by PT boat and later takes a plane from Mindanao to Australia.
*17 March 1942: Arrives at Batchellor Field in
Darwin, Australia
Darwin (Laragiya language, Larrakia: ') is the List of Australian capital cities, capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. The city has nearly 53% of the Northern Territory's population, with 139,902 at the 2021 Australian census, ...
.
*20 March 1942: In
Terowie, South Australia
Terowie (formerly Gottliebs Well and Shebbear) is a small town in the Mid North region of South Australia located north of the state capital of Adelaide. It is located in the Regional Council of Goyder. Terowie retains a number of authentic and ...
, MacArthur promises, "I came out of Bataan and I shall return."
*21 March 1942: Establishes headquarters of USAFFE in
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung/ or ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second most-populous city in Australia, after Sydney. The city's name generally refers to a metropolitan area also known ...
.
*1 April 1942: Awarded the
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...
by War Department General Order No. 16 for his efforts to defend the Philippines.
*9 April 1942: Major General
Edward P. King surrenders the last American and Filipino forces on the Bataan peninsula.
*18 April 1942: Appointed Supreme Allied Commander,
South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area (SWPA) was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific War. SWPA included the Philippines, Borneo, the ...
(SWPA) with headquarters in Melbourne. Australian Prime Minister
John Curtin
John Curtin (8 January 1885 – 5 July 1945) was an Australian politician who served as the 14th prime minister of Australia from 1941 until his death in 1945. He held office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), having been most ...
gives MacArthur control of the Australian military, which commences the
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign of the Pacific War lasted from January 1942 until the end of the war in August 1945. During the initial phase in early 1942, the Empire of Japan invaded the Territory of New Guinea on 23 January and Territory of Papua on ...
. MacArthur also commands American, Dutch and New Zealand forces.
*6 May 1942: Fall of Corregidor island. Lieutenant General
Jonathan Wainwright IV surrenders remaining American and Filipino forces in the Philippines.
*18 June 1942: Appointed
Supreme Allied Commander
Supreme Allied Commander is the title held by the most senior commander within certain multinational military alliances. It originated as a term used by the Allies during World War I, and is currently used only within NATO for Supreme Allied Co ...
,
South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area (SWPA) was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific War. SWPA included the Philippines, Borneo, the ...
.
*21 July 1942: Moves headquarters to the Australian Mutual Provident (AMP) Building in
Brisbane, Australia
Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...
.
*5 September 1942:
I Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General
Robert Eichelberger
Robert Lawrence Eichelberger (9 March 1886 – 26 September 1961) was a general officer in the United States Army who commanded the Eighth United States Army in the Southwest Pacific Area during World War II.
A 1909 graduate of the United ...
, arrives in Australia and is assigned the 32nd and 41st Infantry Divisions. I Corps serves as the headquarters for US ground forces assigned to SWPA and is initially subordinate to the Australian First Army.
*15 September 1942: The 126th Infantry Regiment of the 32nd Infantry Division arrives in New Guinea. This marks the beginning of the
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign of the Pacific War lasted from January 1942 until the end of the war in August 1945. During the initial phase in early 1942, the Empire of Japan invaded the Territory of New Guinea on 23 January and Territory of Papua on ...
.
*19 September 1942: Awarded Distinguished Service Medal by the
American Legion
The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States, U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises U.S. state, state, Territories of the United States, U.S. terr ...
.
*6 November 1942: Moves tactical headquarters of SWPA to
Port Moresby
(; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New ...
, New Guinea. Main headquarters remains in Brisbane.
*16 November 1942 until 22 January 1943:
Battle of Buna–Gona
The battle of Buna–Gona was part of the New Guinea campaign in the Pacific War, Pacific theatre during World War II. It followed the conclusion of the Kokoda Track campaign and lasted from 16 November 1942 until 22 January 1943. The battle wa ...
. American and Australian forces under MacArthur engaged in a hard-fought campaign eliminated a Japanese stronghold in southwestern New Guinea. Allied casualties were high and much was learned about conducting jungle warfare.
=1943
=
*16 February 1943: The
Sixth United States Army
Sixth Army is a Theater Army (United States), theater army of the United States Army. The Army service component command of United States Southern Command, its area of responsibility includes 31 countries and 15 areas of special sovereignty in ...
is formed under the command of Lieutenant General
Walter Kruger. The Sixth Army serves as the headquarters for all US ground forces in the South West Pacific Area.
*2-4 March 1943:
Battle of the Bismarck Sea
The Battle of the Bismarck Sea (2–4 March 1943) took place in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) during World War II when aircraft of the U.S. Fifth Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) attacked a Japanese convoy carrying tro ...
. Allied air forces under MacArthur's command sink 8 transports, 4 destroyers and destroy 20 fighter planes with light casualties. The victory greatly reduces Japan's ability to reinforce its forces on New Guinea.
*30 June 1943 to March 1944: MacArthur implements
Operation Cartwheel
Operation Cartwheel (1943 – 1944) was a major military operation undertaken by the Allies in the Pacific theatre of World War II. The ultimate goal of Cartwheel was to neutralize the major Japanese base at Rabaul. The operation was di ...
, consisting of 10 individual operations with the goal of isolating the major Japanese base at
Rabaul
Rabaul () is a township in the East New Britain province of Papua New Guinea, on the island of New Britain. It lies about to the east of the island of New Guinea. Rabaul was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province ...
. The operation is based on the principles of avoiding strongly held areas and using "island hopping" to gain positional advantages.
*1943 – 1944: Argues with the Joint Chiefs of Staff regarding reconquest of the Philippine Islands. Chiefs propose bypass; MacArthur has a conference with President Roosevelt and Admiral
Chester Nimitz
Chester William Nimitz (; 24 February 1885 – 20 February 1966) was a Fleet admiral (United States), fleet admiral in the United States Navy. He played a major role in the naval history of World War II as Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Co ...
in July 1944 to argue for invading the Philippines. Due to logistics issues the Joint Chiefs decided to invade only the southern the Philippine Islands. MacArthur again must fight to convince his superiors to invade the entire Philippine Islands. The Joint Chiefs eventually agree that MacArthur is to lead the invasion the Philippine Islands at
Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf, also known simply as the Leyte, is a gulf in the Eastern Visayan region in the Philippines. The bay is part of the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, and is bounded by two islands; Samar in the north and Leyte in the west. On the ...
and strike toward Manila.
=1944
=
*Early 1944: After being approached by Republican Party leaders, considers running for the Republican nomination for the 1944 presidential election.
*29 March 1944: Invested as a Knight Grand Cross of the
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by King George I of Great Britain, George I on 18 May 1725. Recipients of the Order are usually senior British Armed Forces, military officers or senior Civil Service ...
by
The Rt Hon The Lord Gowrie VC, GCMG etc.,
Governor General of Australia.
*30 April 1944: Issues a statement asking that no action be taken to nominate him for president. He states, "I do not covet it nor would I accept it."
*June 1944: Receives one vote for the presidential nomination at the
1944 Republican National Convention
The 1944 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois, from June 26 to 28, 1944. It nominated Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York for president and Governor John Bricker of Ohio for vice president.
Background
When the conve ...
.
*28 July 1944: Meets with President Roosevelt, Admiral
William Leahy and Admiral
Chester Nimitz
Chester William Nimitz (; 24 February 1885 – 20 February 1966) was a Fleet admiral (United States), fleet admiral in the United States Navy. He played a major role in the naval history of World War II as Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Co ...
in Honolulu, Hawaii to discuss the alternatives of invading the Philippines or Taiwan prior to an invasion of Japan. MacArthur is successful in convincing Roosevelt to have him lead the invasion of the Philippines.
*20 October 1944: MacArthur fulfills his promise to return to the Philippines.
U.S. forces landed at Leyte and began reconquest of Philippines.
*18 December 1944: Promoted to the newly created rank of
General of the Army
Army general or General of the army is the highest ranked general officer in many countries that use the French Revolutionary System. Army general is normally the highest rank used in peacetime.
In countries that adopt the general officer fou ...
becoming second highest ranking active duty officer of the U.S. Army after Army Chief of Staff
George Marshall
George Catlett Marshall Jr. (31 December 1880 – 16 October 1959) was an American army officer and statesman. He rose through the United States Army to become Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army under pres ...
.
=1945
=
*5 February 1945: Forces under MacArthur's command liberate
Manila
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
. Moves headquarters to Manila.
*7 March 1945: Returns to Corregidor after its recapture.
*11 March 1945: Awarded the
Medal of Valor
This list of medals for bravery is an index to articles about notable medals awarded for bravery or valor.
These medals, usually associated with military forces, police forces, or other public safety entities, are given to personnel who have serv ...
by the Commonwealth of the Philippines.
*Summer 1945: Begins planning the invasion of Japan (codenamed
Operation Downfall
Operation Downfall was the proposed Allied plan for the invasion of the Japanese home islands near the end of World War II. The planned operation was canceled when Japan surrendered following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ...
) with a tentative starting date of 1 November 1945.
*26 July 1945: Briefed by Brigadier General
Thomas F. Farrell
Major General Thomas Francis Farrell (3 December 1891 – 11 April 1967) was the Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Field Operations of the Manhattan Project, acting as executive officer to Major General Leslie R. Groves Jr.
Farrell ...
about the atomic bomb.
*6 August 1945: MacArthur stunned by the news of the use of the
atomic bomb
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon), producing a nuclear expl ...
to destroy Hiroshima. He is quoted as saying that "this apparatus will make men like me obsolete".
*14 August 1945: Japan surrenders. MacArthur is appointed
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers
The Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (), or SCAP, was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the United States-led Allied occupation of Japan following World War II. It issued SCAP Directives (alias SCAPIN, SCAP Index Number) ...
(SCAP) and given command of all Allied Forces in Japan.
*15 August 1945: The Philippine Congress bestows on him honorary citizenship and decrees that his name will be carried in perpetuity on the rolls of the Philippine Army.
*27 August 1945: Elected as a Compatriot of the Empire State Society of the
Sons of the American Revolution
The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), formally the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR), is a federally chartered patriotic organization. The National Society, a nonprofit corporation headquartered in Louisvi ...
.
*30 August 1945: Arrives in Japan and assumes command of the
occupation of Japan
Japan was occupied and administered by the Allies of World War II from the surrender of the Empire of Japan on September 2, 1945, at the war's end until the Treaty of San Francisco took effect on April 28, 1952. The occupation, led by the ...
and is appointed military governor of Japanese home islands.
*2 September 1945: Presides over the Japanese surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay on board the battleship USS ''Missouri''. Threatens the Soviet Union with armed conflict should
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Republic and, from 1922, the Soviet Union. The army was established in January 1918 by a decree of the Council of People ...
soldiers attempt to occupy any part of Japan.
*2 October 1945: Establishes his headquarters at the
Dai Ichi Building in Tokyo.
Occupation of Japan
*15 December 1945: Orders the end of
Shinto
, also called Shintoism, is a religion originating in Japan. Classified as an East Asian religions, East Asian religion by Religious studies, scholars of religion, it is often regarded by its practitioners as Japan's indigenous religion and as ...
as the state religion of Japan.
*1945 – 1948: Begins sweeping reforms, drafts a new constitution for Japan granting women the right to vote, and puts an end to centuries of Emperor god-worship.
*1946: Coroneted as a 33rd Degree Mason at the United States Embassy in Tokyo.
*January 1946: Decides not to prosecute
Emperor Hirohito
, Posthumous name, posthumously honored as , was the 124th emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, from 25 December 1926 until Death and state funeral of Hirohito, his death in 1989. He remains Japan's longest-reigni ...
for war crimes because the Emperor was invaluable to MacArthur's efforts to reform Japan.
*19 January 1946: The International Military Tribunal sits in Tokyo to conduct war crimes trials. MacArthur is given final authority to approve convictions and to carry out sentences.
*23 March 1946: Permanently promoted to General of the Army.
*10 April 1946: First free elections in Japan's history. Japanese women vote for the first time.
*10 May 1946: Visited in Tokyo by Army Chief of Staff
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was the 34th president of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionar ...
. Its the first time the men have met since December 1939.
*4 July 1946: The Philippines become an independent nation. MacArthur, representing the United States Army, attends the celebration in Manila.
*14 December 1946: Invested with the Grand Cross of the French
Legion of Honor
The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...
.
*1 January 1947:
Far East Command established with headquarters in Tokyo.
*3 May 1947: Japan's new constitution, greatly influenced by MacArthur, goes into effect.
*June 1948: Receives 11 votes for the presidential nomination at the
1948 Republican National Convention
The 1948 Republican National Convention was held at the Municipal Auditorium, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from June 21 to 25, 1948.
New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey had paved the way to win the Republican presidential nomination in the ...
.
*9 July 1948: Returned to the active list of the Regular Army. He had officially been a retired officer on active duty since 26 July 1941.
Korean War
*1950: Elected an honorary member of the New York
Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a lineage society, fraternal, hereditary society founded in 1783 to commemorate the American Revolutionary War that saw the creation of the United States. Membership is largely restricted to descendants of milita ...
.
*21 June 1950: Meets with future Secretary of State
John Foster Dulles
John Foster Dulles (February 25, 1888 – May 24, 1959) was an American politician, lawyer, and diplomat who served as United States secretary of state under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 until his resignation in 1959. A member of the ...
in Tokyo.
*25 June 1950: Invasion by
North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...
into
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...
.
*8 July 1950: Named Commander-in-Chief of
United Nations Command
United Nations Command (UNC or UN Command) is the multinational military force established to support the South Korea, Republic of Korea (South Korea) during and after the Korean War. It was the first attempt at collective security by the U ...
and takes command of all
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
forces in
Korea
Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...
.
*31 July 1950: Travels to
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...
and conducts diplomacy with
Generalissimo
''Generalissimo'' ( ), also generalissimus, is a military rank of the highest degree, superior to field marshal and other five-star ranks in the states where they are used.
Usage
The word (), an Italian term, is the absolute superlative ...
Chiang Kai-shek.
*15 September 1950: Leads UN forces at the
invasion at Inchon, which is seen as one of the greatest military operations in history.
*1 October 1950: Calls on North Korean forces to lay down their arms.
*15 October 1950: Meets with President Truman on
Wake Island
Wake Island (), also known as Wake Atoll, is a coral atoll in the Micronesia subregion of the Pacific Ocean. The atoll is composed of three islets – Wake, Wilkes, and Peale Islands – surrounding a lagoon encircled by a coral reef. The neare ...
after heavy disagreements develop regarding the conduct of the
Korean War
The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
. When meeting Truman, it is very noticeable that MacArthur does not salute his Commander-in-Chief but rather offers a handshake. Truman awards MacArthur a fourth oak leaf cluster on his Distinguished Service Medal.
*19 October 1950: China intervenes in North Korea with 200,000 troops.
*November – December 1950: With China committed to all-out war against the US on the Korean peninsula, MacArthur advocates for the same in return against China but is prohibited. He is outraged when military leaders in Washington restrict the war to only the Korean theater, meaning that he cannot bomb even the bridges of the Yalu river over which Chinese troops, supplies, and material are streaming across. He is further restricted from bombing their bases in Manchuria. MacArthur expressed his outrage later, saying that "The order not to bomb the Yalu bridges was the most indefensible and ill-conceived decision ever forced on a field commander in our nation's history."
*25 March 1951: MacArthur is directed to clear his press releases with Washington prior to making them public.
*5 April 1951: Republican Congressman
Joseph Martin Joseph Martin may refer to:
Military
*Joseph Martin (general) (1740–1808), American Revolutionary War general from Virginia
*Joseph Plumb Martin (1760–1850), American soldier and memoir writer
* Joseph M. Martin (born 1962), U.S. Army officer
...
reads a letter written to him by MacArthur on 20 March 1951 to the House of Representatives. In the letter MacArthur supports Martin's view that Chinese Nationalist forces should be employed in the Korean War. This position is in conflict with the policies of the Truman administration.
*10 April 1951: President Truman meets with senior officials regarding, in Truman's opinion, MacArthur's insubordination. It is decided that MacArthur should be
relieved of command of United Nations forces in Korea.
*11 April 1951: After several public criticisms of White House policy in Korea, which were seen as undercutting the
Commander-in-Chief's position, President Truman removes MacArthur from command and orders him to return to the United States. Some suggest Truman may have exchanged MacArthur for a sound nuclear policy in Korea since he did not trust "Brass Hat MacArthur" with nuclear weapons. Some disagree with this, however, since MacArthur later came out against Truman's use of the bomb against Japan and there seems to be no concrete evidence of a major change in his views. MacArthur's commands are turned over to Lieutenant General
Matthew B. Ridgway
Matthew Bunker Ridgway (3 March 1895 – 26 July 1993) was a senior officer in the United States Army, who served as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1952–1953) and the 19th Chief of Staff of the United States Army (1953–1955). Although he s ...
.
*8 September 1951:
Peace treaty
A peace treaty is an treaty, agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually country, countries or governments, which formally ends a declaration of war, state of war between the parties. It is different from an armistice, which is an ag ...
with Japan signed. Position of Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) abolished.
Later life
*19 April 1951: At a farewell address before the
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...
, MacArthur gives his famous
"Old Soldiers Never Die" speech.
*April 1951: Awarded Gold Commemorative Medal by New York City.
*20 April 1951: Honored with a
ticker tape parade
A ticker-tape parade is a parade event held in an urban setting, characterized by large amounts of shredded paper thrown onto the parade route from the surrounding buildings, creating a celebratory flurry of paper. Originally, actual ticker tap ...
in New York City.
*25 April 1951: Addresses a crowd of 50,000 at
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is a multi-purpose stadium on the Near South Side, Chicago, Near South Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Opened in 1924 and reconstructed in 2003, the stadium has served as the home of the Chicago Bears from the National ...
in Chicago.
*27 April 1951: Visits
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...
and accepts honorary degree from
Marquette University
Marquette University () is a Private university, private Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It was established as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, by John Henni, the first Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Ar ...
.
*28 April 1951: Awarded Distinguished Service Citizens Medal by the
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), formally the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States Armed Forces, United States war veterans who fought in wars, Military campaign, campaig ...
.
*1 May 1951: Awarded Gold Good Citizenship Medal by the
Sons of the American Revolution
The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), formally the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR), is a federally chartered patriotic organization. The National Society, a nonprofit corporation headquartered in Louisvi ...
.
*3-5 May 1951: Appears before the Senate committees on Foreign Relations and Armed Services. MacArthur answers questions about the conduct of the Korean War and his relief from command. The hearings continue until 27 June 1951.
*May 1951: Retires a second time from the U.S. Army, but is listed as permanently on active duty due to the regulations regarding those who hold the rank of General of the Army. For administrative reasons, he is assigned ''in absentee'' to the office of the Army Chief of Staff and has an office at the federal office building at 90 Church Street in Manhattan. Makes his residence at the
Waldorf Astoria Hotel Waldorf can have the following meanings:
People
* Stephen Waldorf (born 1957), film editor
* William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor (1848–1919), financier and statesman
* Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor (1879–1952), businessman and po ...
.
*13 June 1951: Addresses the Texas State Legislature in Austin. Warns against a policy of appeasement.
*25 July 1951: Addresses the Massachusetts State Legislature in Boston. He states that it is a dangerous concept for members of the military to owe their primary allegiance to those in temporary authority in the executive branch of government rather than to their country and its Constitution.
*17 October 1951: Addresses the National Convention of the
American Legion
The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States, U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises U.S. state, state, Territories of the United States, U.S. terr ...
in
Miami, Florida
Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
.
*1952: Allows name to be placed on primary ballots for
Republican nomination, but does not campaign or announce as a candidate.
*July 1952: Delivers the keynote address at the
1952 Republican National Convention
The 1952 Republican National Convention was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois from July 7 to 11, 1952, and nominated Dwight David Eisenhower, Dwight D. Eisenhower of New York (state), New York, nicknamed "Ike", for Pres ...
. Senator
Robert Taft Robert Taft may refer to:
People
Members of the Taft political family
* Robert Taft Sr. (c. 1640–1725; Robert Taft I), 17th century founder of the U.S. Taft political family
* Robert Taft, 2nd (1674–1748; Robert Taft II), colonial-born pione ...
promises supporters to name MacArthur as candidate for vice president, but Taft loses to nomination to Eisenhower on the 1st ballot. MacArthur received 10 votes on the 1st ballot before shifts and only 4 votes after shifts.
*1952: Nominated for president, without his consent, by both the
Constitution Party and the
America First Party, with Senator
Harry F. Byrd as the nominee for vice president. Receives 17,205 votes nationwide.
*1952: Accepts position as chairman of the board of directors of
Remington Rand Corporation
Remington Rand, Inc. was an early American business machine manufacturer, originally a typewriter manufacturer and in a later incarnation the manufacturer of the UNIVAC line of mainframe computers. Formed in 1927 following a merger, Remington R ...
.
*17 December 1952: At the request of President-elect Eisenhower, MacArthur meets with him and Secretary of State designate
John Foster Dulles
John Foster Dulles (February 25, 1888 – May 24, 1959) was an American politician, lawyer, and diplomat who served as United States secretary of state under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 until his resignation in 1959. A member of the ...
at the Waldorf Astoria to discuss MacArthur's suggestions for ending the Korean War. This is the first meeting between the two in six years.
*18 March 1954: Meets with President Eisenhower at the White House.
*1955: Is considered for promotion to the rank of
General of the Armies
General of the Armies of the United States, more commonly referred to as General of the Armies, is the highest military rank in the United States. The rank has been conferred three times: to John J. Pershing in 1919, as a personal accolade fo ...
. The promotion does not take place, various difficulties having arisen.
*30 July 1957: Addresses stockholders meeting of the
Sperry Rand
Sperry Corporation was a major American equipment and electronics company whose existence spanned more than seven decades of the 20th century. Sperry ceased to exist in 1986 following a prolonged hostile takeover bid engineered by Burroughs ...
Corporation. Comments on the negative economic impact of taxation.
*1959: The
MacArthur Bowl
The MacArthur Bowl is a trophy awarded annually by the National Football Foundation (NFF) (owners and operators of the College Football Hall of Fame) to the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football team(s) that are recognized by ...
trophy is established. It is a trophy awarded annually by the
National Football Foundation
The National Football Foundation (NFF) is a non-profit organization to promote amateur American football on all levels throughout the United States and develop "the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, competitive zeal and the drive for academi ...
(NFF) (owners and operators of the
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive Tourist attraction, attraction devoted to college football, college American football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players ...
) to the
NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
The NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), formerly known as Division I-A, is the highest level of college football in the United States. The FBS consists of the largest schools in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). As ...
college football team(s) that are recognized by the NFF as the National Champions for that season.
*1 December 1959: Addresses Football Hall of Fame dinner in New York City.
*1960: Active in U.S. Olympic affairs.
*21 June 1960: Invested with the Grand Cordon with Paulownia Flowers of the Japanese
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese honors system, Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge feat ...
.(Became
Order of the Paulownia Flowers
The is an Order (decoration), order presented by the Japanese government. The award was established in 1888 during the Meiji Restoration as the highest award in the Order of the Rising Sun and has been an Order in its own right since 2003. The ...
in 2003.) This makes MacArthur one of the few generals in history to be honored by a country he fought against.
*10 January 1961: Invested as Chief Commander of the
Philippine Legion of Honor
The Philippine Legion of Honor (; ) was established by President Manuel Roxas, through Philippine Army Circular No. 60 dated July 3, 1947. The Philippine Legion of Honour, Honor was patterned after the Legion of Merit of the United States of Amer ...
.
*28 April 1961: Meets with President
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), also known as JFK, was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the first Roman Catholic and youngest person elected p ...
at the Waldorf Astoria hotel.
*6 June 1961: Arthur MacArthur IV graduates from
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...
. He lives a reclusive adult life in New York City under an assumed name.
*4 July 1961: Visits the Philippines on the fifteenth anniversary of its independence. This is his last public appearance in uniform.
*20 July 1961: Meets with President Kennedy at the White House.
*1961: Awarded an honorary
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a United States Army military decoration. The badge is awarded to infantrymen and Special Forces (United States Army), Special Forces soldiers in the rank of Colonel (United States), colonel and below, wh ...
by Army Chief of Staff General
George H. Decker. During World War II, Decker served as chief of staff of the
Sixth United States Army
Sixth Army is a Theater Army (United States), theater army of the United States Army. The Army service component command of United States Southern Command, its area of responsibility includes 31 countries and 15 areas of special sovereignty in ...
, which was a major element under MacArthur's command.
*12 May 1962: Gives famous
''Duty, Honor, Country'' speech at
West Point
The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...
upon accepting the
Sylvanus Thayer Award
The Sylvanus Thayer Award is an honor given annually by the United States Military Academy at West Point to an individual whose character and accomplishments exemplifies the motto of West Point. The award is named after the "Father of the Military ...
granted by the West Point Association of Graduates.
*25 May 1962: Awarded
Silver Buffalo Award
The Silver Buffalo Award is the national-level distinguished service award of Scouting America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis, either as part of, or independent of the Scouting program. The ...
from the
Boy Scouts of America
Scouting America is the largest scouting organization and one of the largest List of youth organizations, youth organizations in the United States, with over 1 million youth, including nearly 200,000 female participants. Founded as the Boy Sco ...
.
*20 July 1962: Awarded the
Thanks of Congress
The Thanks of Congress is a series of formal resolutions passed by the United States Congress originally to extend the government's formal thanks for significant victories or impressive actions by United States, American military commanders and th ...
by unanimous vote.
*16 August 1962: Meets with President Kennedy at the White House.
*9 October 1962: Awarded
Congressional Gold Medal
The Congressional Gold Medal is the oldest and highest civilian award in the United States, alongside the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is bestowed by vote of the United States Congress, signed into law by the president. The Gold Medal exp ...
.
*30 September 1963: Awarded the Grand Lodge of the State of New York Distinguished Achievement Award by
Freemasonry
Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
.
Illness and death
*2 March 1964: Goes to
Walter Reed Army Hospital
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), officially known as Walter Reed General Hospital (WRGH) until 1951, was the U.S. Army's flagship medical center from 1909 to 2011. Located on in Washington, D.C., it served more than 150,000 activ ...
for a checkup due to stomach pains.
*6 March 1964: Has surgery for removal of his gallbladder and of gallstones, which had been causing obstructive jaundice.
*March 1964: Visited by President
Lyndon Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), also known as LBJ, was the 36th president of the United States, serving from 1963 to 1969. He became president after assassination of John F. Kennedy, the assassination of John F. Ken ...
while recovering from surgery.
*5 April 1964: General of the Army Douglas MacArthur dies of liver and kidney failure following gallbladder surgery at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. President Johnson orders all US flags be flown at half staff until after MacArthur's burial.
*7 April 1964: Lies in honor at the
Seventh Regiment Armory
The Park Avenue Armory, also known as the 7th Regiment Armory, is a historic Armory (military), armory for the National Guard (United States), U.S. Army National Guard at 643 Park Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, Uni ...
in New York City.
*8-9 April 1964:
Lies in state
Lying in state is the tradition in which the body of a deceased official, such as a head of state, is placed in a state building, either outside or inside a coffin, to allow the public to pay their respects. It traditionally takes place in a m ...
at the
United States Capitol rotunda
The United States Capitol building features a central rotunda below the Capitol dome. Built between 1818 and 1824, the rotunda has been described as the Capitol's "symbolic and physical heart".
The rotunda is connected by corridors leading so ...
in Washington, D.C. Eulogies are given by the chaplains of the House and Senate and President Johnson lays a wreath on MacArthur's casket. Admiral of the Navy
George Dewey
George Dewey (December 26, 1837January 16, 1917) was Admiral of the Navy, the only person in United States history to have attained that rank. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War, wi ...
and General of the Armies
John Pershing
General of the Armies John Joseph Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948), nicknamed "Black Jack", was an American army general, educator, and founder of the Pershing Rifles. He served as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forc ...
are the only other military officers who were not presidents or senators to have lain in state at the Capitol.
*11 April 1964: Interred at the
MacArthur Memorial
The MacArthur Memorial is a memorial, museum, and research center about the life of General Douglas MacArthur. It consists of three buildings on MacArthur Square in Norfolk, Virginia.
MacArthur never lived in Norfolk but his mother, Mary Pinkne ...
in Norfolk, Virginia.
*26 January 1971: US Postal Service issues a 6 cent stamp in honor of MacArthur.
*22 January 2000:
Jean MacArthur
Jean Marie MacArthur ( Faircloth; December 28, 1898 – January 22, 2000) was the second wife of U.S. Army General of the Army Douglas MacArthur.
Early life and education
Born Jean Marie Faircloth in Nashville, Tennessee, she was the dau ...
dies in New York City and is buried next to her husband.
*23 September 2017: Posthumously receives the George Washington Distinguished Medal of Service from the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia.
Assignments
Early career
*Cadet,
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...
, 13 June 1899 to 11 June 1903
*Graduated and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers, 11 June 1903
*At Guimaras Island, P. I., with Company I, 3d Battalion of Engineers, October 1903 to November 1904
*Assistant to the Engineer Officer, Department of the Visayas, Iloilo, P. I., October 1903 to March, 1904
*Disbursing Officer and Assistant to the Chief Engineer Officer, Philippines Division, Manila, P. I., 27 February 1904 to October, 1904
*Assistant to Lieutenant Colonel T. H. Handbury, Corps of Engineers, San Francisco, California, November 1904 to April 1905
*California Debris Commission, January 1905 to October 1905
*Assistant to Colonel W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, San Francisco, Cal., April 1905 to October 1905
*Acting Chief Engineer Officer, Pacific Division, July 1905 to October 1905
*Aide-de‑Camp to Commanding General, Pacific Division, October 1905 to September 1906
*Confidential duty in Japan, China, Siam, Java, Malay States, Burma, India and Ceylon, November 1905 to August 1906
*2d Battalion of Engineers, Washington Barracks, D. C., November 1906 to August 1907
*Aide-de‑Camp to President
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), also known as Teddy or T.R., was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt previously was involved in New York (state), New York politics, incl ...
, December 1906 to August 1907
*Assistant to Major W. V. Judson, Corps of Engineers, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 1907 to April 1908
*In charge of improvements to the harbors of Manitowoc, Two‑Rivers and Sheboygan, Wisconsin, November 1907 to April, 1908
*Graduate of Engineer School of Application, 28 February 1908
*Commanding Company K, 3d Battalion of Engineers,
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth () is a United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, in the city of Leavenworth, Kansas, Leavenworth. Built in 1827, it is the second oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C., an ...
, Kansas, April, 1908 to circa 1910
*Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, commanding Battalion, and Battalion Adjutant and Instructor, Army Service Schools, April, 1908 to November, 1912
*Participated in mobilization of Maneuver Division at San Antonio, Texas, March to July 1911
*At Washington, D. C., member and recorder of Board of Engineer Troops, November 1912, to May 1913
*With General Staff Corps, May to September, 1913
*Superintendent of
State, War and Navy Building and member of General Staff, 25 September 1913 to 11 December 1915
*Participated in Vera Cruz Expedition, April to September 1914
*With General Staff, 11 December 1915 to 7 April 1916
*Member of General Staff, 7 April 1916 to 10 August 1917
Mid career
*Chief of Staff,
42nd Division - 10 August 1917 to 26 June 1918
*Commander, 84th Infantry Brigade, 42d Division - 26 June 1918 to 12 April 1919
*Acting Commander, 42nd Division - 10 November 1918 to 22 November 1918
*Superintendent,
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...
- 12 June 1919 to 30 June 1922
*Commander, District of Manila - 1 November 1922 to 29 June 1923
*Commander, 23rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Division - 29 June 1923 to 17 January 1925
*Commander,
Philippine Division - 18 November 1924 to 30 January 1925
*Commander, Fourth Corps Area, Atlanta, Georgia - 1 May 1925 to 26 July 1925
*Commander, Third Corps Area, Baltimore, Maryland - 1 August 1925 to 3 September 1928
*Commander, Philippine Department - 1 October 1928 to September 1930
*Commander, Ninth Corps Area, San Francisco, California - 2 October 1930 to 20 November 1930
*
Chief of Staff, United States Army - 21 November 1930 to 1 October 1935
*Chief Military Advisor to the Philippines - 26 October 1935 to 26 July 1941 (Held position as a retired officer from 1 January 1938.)
Late career (World War II and Korea)
*Commanding General,
United States Army Forces in the Far East
United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) (Filipino language, Filipino: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Estados Unidos sa Malayong Silangan''; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Fuerzas del Ejército de los Estados Unidos en el Lejano Oriente'') was a m ...
(USAFFE) - 27 July 1941 to 4 July 1946
*Commander,
Philippine Department
The Philippine Department (Filipino: ''Kagawaran ng Pilipinas/Hukbong Kagawaran ng Pilipinas'') was a regular United States Army organization whose mission was to defend the Philippine Islands and train the Philippine Army. On 9 April 1942, duri ...
- 27 July 1941 to 21 March 1942
*Supreme Allied Commander,
South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area (SWPA) was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific War. SWPA included the Philippines, Borneo, the ...
(SWPA) - 18 April 1942 to 2 September 1945
*Commander in Chief, United States Army Forces in the Pacific (AFPAC) - 6 April 1945 to 31 December 1946
*
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers
The Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (), or SCAP, was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the United States-led Allied occupation of Japan following World War II. It issued SCAP Directives (alias SCAPIN, SCAP Index Number) ...
(SCAP), Japan - 14 August 1945 to 11 April 1951
*Commander in Chief,
Far East Command - 1 January 1947 to 11 April 1951
*Commander in Chief,
United Nations Command, Korea - 8 July 1950 to 11 April 1951
Dates of rank
In 1955, legislation was in the early stages of consideration by the United States Congress which would have authorized the
President of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...
to promote Douglas MacArthur to the rank of
General of the Armies
General of the Armies of the United States, more commonly referred to as General of the Armies, is the highest military rank in the United States. The rank has been conferred three times: to John J. Pershing in 1919, as a personal accolade fo ...
. A similar measure had also been proposed unsuccessfully by
Stuart Symington
William Stuart Symington III ( ; June 26, 1901 – December 14, 1988) was an American businessman and Democratic politician from Missouri. He served as the first secretary of the Air Force from 1947 to 1950 and was a United States senator from ...
in 1945. However, because of several complications which would arise if such a promotion were to take place, the bill was withdrawn.
Orders, decorations and medals
Throughout his career, Douglas MacArthur earned nearly 100 military awards and national honors including:
Note 1 - General MacArthur received every U.S. Army decoration and service medal which he was potentially eligible for except for the
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...
.
Note 2 - General MacArthur was awarded a total of 14
overseas service insignias - 3 gold chevrons for World War I, 9 overseas service bars for World War II and 2 for the Korean War.
Civil awards
In addition to the military awards and national honors listed above, General MacArthur received numerous other honors and awards. Below is a partial listing.
*Army and Navy Club Gold Medal (1935)
*American Legion Distinguished Service Medal (1942)
*
Boy Scouts of America
Scouting America is the largest scouting organization and one of the largest List of youth organizations, youth organizations in the United States, with over 1 million youth, including nearly 200,000 female participants. Founded as the Boy Sco ...
Silver Buffalo Award
The Silver Buffalo Award is the national-level distinguished service award of Scouting America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis, either as part of, or independent of the Scouting program. The ...
(1946)
*
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Roosevelt Medal (1946)
*Sons of the American Revolution Gold Good Citizenship Medal (1951)
*Veterans of Foreign Wars Citizens Distinguished Service Medal (1951)
*
National Football Foundation
The National Football Foundation (NFF) is a non-profit organization to promote amateur American football on all levels throughout the United States and develop "the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, competitive zeal and the drive for academi ...
Gold Medal (1959)
*Order of Lafayette Freedom Medal (1961)
*
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...
Sylvanus Thayer Award
The Sylvanus Thayer Award is an honor given annually by the United States Military Academy at West Point to an individual whose character and accomplishments exemplifies the motto of West Point. The award is named after the "Father of the Military ...
(1962)
*
Thanks of Congress
The Thanks of Congress is a series of formal resolutions passed by the United States Congress originally to extend the government's formal thanks for significant victories or impressive actions by United States, American military commanders and th ...
(1962)
*
Congressional Gold Medal
The Congressional Gold Medal is the oldest and highest civilian award in the United States, alongside the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is bestowed by vote of the United States Congress, signed into law by the president. The Gold Medal exp ...
(1962)
*
Freemasons
Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
Distinguished Achievement Medal (1963)
*
South Korea - Order of Merit for National Foundation (1964)
General MacArthur appeared on the cover of
Time magazine
''Time'' (stylized in all caps as ''TIME'') is an American news magazine based in New York City. It was published weekly for nearly a century. Starting in March 2020, it transitioned to every other week. It was first published in New York Cit ...
a total of eight times. He was also featured on the cover of
Life magazine
''Life'' (stylized as ''LIFE'') is an American magazine launched in 1883 as a weekly publication. In 1972, it transitioned to publishing "special" issues before running as a monthly from 1978 to 2000. Since then, ''Life'' has irregularly publi ...
six times. In addition, his trademark "scrambled eggs" hat appeared on the cover of ''Life'' magazine following his death in 1964.
Memberships
General MacArthur belonged to several military and hereditary societies including the
Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a lineage society, fraternal, hereditary society founded in 1783 to commemorate the American Revolutionary War that saw the creation of the United States. Membership is largely restricted to descendants of milita ...
(elected an honorary member of the New York Society in 1950),
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or, simply, the Loyal Legion, is a United States military order organized on April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Union Army. The original membership was consisted ...
(insignia number 15,317),
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) is an American congressionally chartered fraternal organization that carries out activities to preserve the history and legacy of the United States Armed Forces veterans who fought during the Civil ...
,
Sons of the American Revolution
The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), formally the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR), is a federally chartered patriotic organization. The National Society, a nonprofit corporation headquartered in Louisvi ...
(accepted by the Empire State Society on 27 August 1945, and assigned national membership number 65,843 and state membership number 7,723),
Military Order of Foreign Wars
The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States (MOFW) is one of the oldest veterans' and hereditary associations in the nation with a membership that includes officers and their hereditary descendants from all of the Armed Services. Memb ...
,
Military Order of the World Wars
The Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) is an American social organization of military officers of the United States and their descendants. It was created in 1919 as the Military Order of the World War at the suggestion of General of the Armie ...
(of which he served as national commander in 1928),
Order of Lafayette
The Order of Lafayette is a fraternal organization of American military officers who served in France or French territory during World War I or World War II, as well as their descendants.
It was established in New York City in 1958 by Colonel H ...
,
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), formally the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States Armed Forces, United States war veterans who fought in wars, Military campaign, campaig ...
, and the
American Legion
The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States, U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises U.S. state, state, Territories of the United States, U.S. terr ...
(member of Post 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin). MacArthur was installed as the Supreme Paramount Carabao of the
Military Order of the Carabao
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a d ...
at its annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on 27 February 1932.
In 1942 he received the American Legion's Distinguished Service Medal. On 13 October 1951, he was elected an honorary national president of the Society of American Legion Founders.
MacArthur was also eligible for membership in
Sons of the Revolution
The Sons of the Revolution (SR), formally the General Society of the Sons of the Revolution (GSSR), is a patriotic organization headquartered at Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. A nonprofit corporation, the Sons of the Revolution was foun ...
,
Society of Colonial Wars
The General Society of Colonial Wars is a patriotic society composed of men who trace their descents from forebears who, in military, naval, or civil positions of high trust and responsibility, by acts or counsel, assisted in the establishment, d ...
and the
Order of the Indian Wars of the United States
The Order of the Indian Wars of the United States (OIWUS) is a military society founded in 1896 by officers of the United States Army who served in campaigns against Native Americans from the American Revolution to the late 19th century.
Histo ...
, however, his membership in these organizations has not been confirmed.
On 17 January 1936, MacArthur was made a
Freemason
Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
at sight by Samuel Hawthorne, Grand Master of Masons in the Philippines in a two-hour ceremony. After being raised to the degree of Master Mason, MacArthur joined Manila Lodge No.1. On 19 October 1937, he was elected Knight Commander Court of Honor, and on 8 December 1947, he was coroneted to the honorary
33rd Degree
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is a List of Masonic rites, rite within the broader context of Freemasonry. It is the most widely practiced List of Masonic rites, Rite in the world. In some parts of the world, and in the ...
at the American Embassy in Tokyo. He was also a life member of the Nile Shrine in Seattle, Washington.
References
External links
''New York Times'' ObituaryGeneral Orders No. 13, Headquarters, Department of the Army, 6 April 1964.''General of the Army Douglas MacArthur Medal'', Reports and Documents, Volume 18; Volume 87 by United States Congress, 21 September 1962.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Service Summary Of Douglas Macarthur
Douglas MacArthur
MacArthur MacArthur or Macarthur may refer to:
Arts and media
* INSS MacArthur, a fictional starship featured in the science fiction novel ''The Mote in God's Eye''
* ''MacArthur'' (1977 film), a movie biography of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur
* ' ...