General MacArthur was an American general and also Field Marshal of the Philippine Army. He fought in three major wars and received the Medal of Honour for his leadership in the defence of the Philippines

DOUGLAS MACARTHUR

Douglas MacArthur entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1898. After leaving West Point, MacArthur served his first tour of duty in the Philippines. From 1922 to 1930, MacArthur served two tours of duty in the Philippines, the second as commander of the Philippine Department (1928-1930). When the Commonwealth of the Philippines achieved semi-independent status in 1935, President Quezon asked MacArthur to supervise the creation of a Philippine Army. He was made Field Marshal of the Philippine Army by President Quezon making him the most senior officer on the rolls of the Philippine Army.

In July 1941 Roosevelt recalled him to active duty in the U.S. Army and named him commander of United States Armed Forces in the Far East promoting him to a lieutenant general.

In March 1942, as Japanese forces tightened their grip on the Philippines, MacArthur was ordered by President Roosevelt to relocate to Melbourne, Australia.

On 20 October 1944 allied forces under MacArthur's command, landed at Leyte Island. He consolidated his hold on the archipelago after heavy fighting in the Battle of Luzon and Battle of Manila. Despite a massive Japanese naval counterattack in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Japanese forces were unable to stop the invasion or do more than slow the recapture of the islands.

On 2 September 1944, MacArthur accepted the formal Japanese surrender aboard Missouri, thus ending World War II.

In 1961, he made a "sentimental journey" to the Philippines, where he was decorated by President Garcia with the Philippine Legion of Honour, rank of Chief Commander.

26 January 1880

to 5 April 1964

Family Links

Commemorative

#519 to 531, 3 Feb 1948

Battle of Corregidor, 25th Anniversary

#971 and 972, 31 Aug 1967

Birth Centenary of General MacArthur

#1449 to 1451 26 Jan 1980

The stamps issued to mark General MacArthur's birth centenary include the quote "I shall return" This famous quote, made during a speech in which he said, "I came out of Bataan and I shall return", was first made at Terowie (a small railway township in South Australia). Upon his arrival in Adelaide, MacArthur abbreviated this to the now-famous, "I came through and I shall return" that made headlines. Washington asked MacArthur to amend his promise to, "We shall return" but he ignored the request.

Landings at Leyte Gulf, 50th Anniversary; #2316b 15 Sept 1994

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