Douglas MacArthur

MacArthur, Douglas (1880–1964), U.S. general and hero of World War II. He commanded the 42nd (Rainbow) Division in World War I and was superintendent of West Point (1919–22). In 1930 he became chief of staff of the U.S. Army, the youngest man ever to hold the post, and was promoted to general. He retired from the army in 1937, but was recalled in 1941 as commander of U.S. Army forces in the Far East. In 1942 he became Allied commander of the Southwest Pacific Allied forces, and in 1944 general of the army. MacArthur received the Medal of Honor for his defense of the Philippines. Signatory of the Japanese surrender, he led the reconstruction of Japan, as Allied supreme commander from 1945. When the Korean War broke out (1950) he was selected commander of the UN forces sent to aid South Korea. His unwillingness to obey President Harry S. Truman's orders to restrict the war to Korea rather than extend it to China led to his dismissal the following year. Some Republicans tried unsuccessfully to nominate MacArthur for the presidency in 1944, 1948, and 1952. His memoirs, Reminiscences, were published in 1964.

See also: Korean War; World War II.