GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR (1880-1964)

by Bill Young

Douglas MacArthur was born in the 19th Century and made a profound impact on the 20th Century. His military career spanned more than 50 years. His father was a boy colonel in the Union Army, and his mother was a Southern belle from Virginia. The marriage of his father and mother symbolized the reunion of the North and South.

An army brat destined to be a soldier, MacArthur’s swaddling clothes were khaki. His earliest memory was of a bugle call. His mother was an iron magnolia. Her first goal in life was to make her husband a general, and her second goal was to make her son a general.

MacArthur was an outstanding cadet at West Point. He endured cruel hazing without a whimper. He finished first in his class and won the rank of First Captain of the Corps of Cadets. He served in the infantry in the trenches in France in World War One. He was utterly fearless and led his men over the top with a riding crop in his hands. He became the youngest brigadier general in the American Army at the age of 38 and commanded the famous Rainbow (National Guard) Division. The soldiers of the Rainbow came from all walks of life throughout the United States.

At the end of World War One, MacArthur was appointed to the coveted post of superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He said, “We are preparing our young men to fight the War of 1812.” He changed the curriculum to include more liberal arts courses, and today’s program of instruction at the Point is exactly what he envisioned.

When America entered World War II, MacArthur became Supreme Allied Commander in the Pacific. He fought a brilliant island-hopping campaing with a few men and supplies and saw the complete and utter defeat of Japan. He then became the ruler of occupied Japan and got the nation back on its feet. In this role he was an economist, political scientist, manufacturing executive, teacher, engineer, and theologian. He wrote a constitution for Japan that became law and turned the country into a model of democracy.

When the Korean War broke out, MacArthur commanded the soldiers of the United Nations. While President Truman was trying to negotiate a political settlement to the conflict, MacArthur advocated an escalation of the war. MacArthur disobeyed the orders of his commander-in-chief, and he was sacked.

MacArthur returned to America to a hero’s welcome and nearly brought down the Truman administration when he made his “old soldiers never die” speech to Congress. MacArthur represents the best and the worst of American character. He showed initiative, demonstrated courage, adapted, endured, overcame, and achieved. On the other hand, like all of us, he was his own worst enemy. He wrote his name in large, bold letters across the pages of American history.

RECOMMENDED READING

Langley, Michael. Inchon Landing. Times Books, 1979.

Leary, William M. MacArthur and the American Century. University of Nebrask Press, 2001.

MacArthur, Douglas. Reminiscences. McGraw-Hill, 1964.

Manchester, William. American Caesar. Little, Brown and Company, 1978.

BILL YOUNG

Bill Young is a native of Richmond, Virginia. He is a graduate of the University of Virginian (B.A. – English) and the University of Richmond Law School (LLB, JD). He began his legal career as law clerk to Mr. Justice Snead of the Virginia Supreme Court. He retired after 35 years as a trial lawyer to become a professional speaker, writer, actor, and wood carver.

Bill has written and illustrated two Boy Scout books, and he and his wife Patsy are co-authors of the history of the 56th Virginia Infantry Regiment. He now writes and illustrates articles for several historical magazines. He is a member of the Sons of the Revolution, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the cast of the Patrick Henry reenactment at St. John’s Church, and the cast of the Parson’s Cause at Hanover Court House.

Bill also presents first-person portrayals of Capt. Garbriel Archer (a gentleman of Jamestown), Capt. John Paul Jones, Lt. George Finley (a Virginia soldier at Gettysburg), President Woodrow Wilson. To date Bill has presented in 20 states and in London.