MacArthur, Douglas

MacArthur, Douglas (1880–1964) army general, born in Little Rock, Arkansas. MacArthur was five-star General of the Army (1944), commander of the Southwest Pacific Area Theater (1942–45) during World War II, supreme allied commander in occupied Japan (1945–50), and commander of U.S. and U.N. forces (1950–51) early in the Korean War. MacArthur was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his defense of the Philippines prior to the Japanese takeover in 1942 (when he made his famous pledge—“I shall return.”). Ordered to evacuate to Australia, from there MacArthur launched an offensive against Japanese forces on New Guinea, while the U.S. Navy pushed through the Central Pacific. His invasion of the Philippines in 1944 did not bring the anticipated quick ending to the Japanese occupation. While MacArthur undoubtedly had genuine achievements in the war, many Americans mistakenly credit him with Pacific victories won by the navy and marines under separate command. As supreme allied commander in occupied Japan, however, his achievements are unquestioned. He successfully presided over a complex process of demilitarizing and democratizing an authoritarian state, implementing generally liberal economic, social, and political reforms and imposing a written constitution that abolished Japan's right to maintain armed forces or conduct war (1947). As commander of forces in Korea, MacArthur was initially successful in liberating South Korea, but he repeatedly clashed with President Harry S. Truman and the joint chiefs over expanding the war to China. His public criticism of the commander in chief led to his being removed from all his commands (1951). He was received as a hero on his return to the United States, and his flair for the apt statement and dramatic gesture culminated in an address to Congress which he ended by quoting from an army song: “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.” MacArthur was an unsuccessful contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 1952 (as he had been in 1948). Before World War II, MacArthur had earned several decorations while fighting in France during World War I; served a term as superintendent at West Point; and spent two tours of duty in the Philippines. His tenure as army chief of staff (1930–35) was tarnished when he used military force to rout demonstrating veterans from the nation's capital (1932).