Biography of Douglas MacArthur

The youngest of three sons, Douglas MacArthur was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on January 26, 1880. His parents were Captain Arthur MacArthur (who had served in the Civil War on the Union side) and his wife Mary Pinkney Hardy.

Douglas spent much of his early life moving around the American West as his father’s posting changed. Learning to ride and shoot at an early age, MacArthur received his early education at the Force Public School in Washington D.C. and later at the West Texas Military Academy. Later at West Point he became an outstanding student; he held several leadership positions within the Corps of Cadets including First Captain in his final year at the academy. Graduating in 1903, MacArthur ranked first in his class of 93. Upon leaving West Point, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In December 11, 1915 MacArthur was promoted to major. With the entry of the U.S. into World War I MacArthur helped form the 42nd “Rainbow” Division. Once formed, MacArthur was promoted to Colonel and made chief of staff. In October 1917, he earned his first Silver Starr. Moving forward with the 168th Infantry Regiment, his leadership earned him a Distinguished Service Cross. On June 26, 1918, MacArthur was promoted to brigadier general becoming the youngest general in the American Expeditionary Force. His leadership led him to receive a second Distinguished Service Cross. He returned to the U.S. in April 1919, and took over Leadership at West Point.

On January 17, 1925, he was promoted to major general. Despite his relatively young age in 1930 he became the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. In 1937, MacArthur retired from the U.S. Army, but remained in place as an advisor.

General of the Army Douglas MacArthur smoking his corncob pipe, probably at Manila, Philippine Islands, 2 August 1945 www.history.navy.mil

With tensions with Japan growing, Roosevelt recalled MacArthur to active duty as commander of the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East in July 1941. At 3:30 a.m. on December 8, he learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor. As the situation on Bataan deteriorated, MacArthur received orders from Roosevelt to leave the Philippines and escape to Australia. Initially he refused, but on March 12, 1942 he left. He famously broadcast to the people of the Philippines “I shall return.” For his work he was awarded the Medal of Honor. On October 20, 1944, MacArthur returned to the Philippines, and announced, “People of the Philippines: I have returned.” On September 2, 1945, MacArthur oversaw the signing of the instrument of surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

During the Korean War China stated that if MacArthur’s troops kept heading north there would be consequences. Truman told MacArthur to return to the parallel, but MacArthur was not afraid of China. He wrote a letter to congress stating the same. When Truman found out he fired the 5 star general. His famous statement after being fired was, “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.”

MacArthur died at Walter Reed Medical Center on April 5, 1964 at the age of 84. He was buried at the Macarthur Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia.