General Douglas MacArthur

(noun)

An American general who was Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He led the United Nations command in the Korean War until he was removed from command by President Harry S. Truman on 11 April 1951.

Related Terms

Examples of General Douglas MacArthur in the following topics:

  • MacArthur's Leapfrogging

    • Operation Cartwheel (1943–1944) was a major military strategy in the Pacific theater of World War II that aimed at militarily neutralizing the major Japanese base at Rabaul and was directed by the Supreme Allied Commander in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA)—General Douglas MacArthur.
    • The operation was directed by the Supreme Allied Commander in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA)—General Douglas MacArthur—whose forces advanced along the northeast coast of New Guinea and occupied nearby islands.
    • The next day, MacArthur watched the landing at Nadzab by paratroops of the 503rd Parachute Infantry.
    • MacArthur eventually caught the Japanese off balance and cut off Japanese forces in the Wewak area.
    • Left to right: Mr Frank Forde (Australian Minister for the Army); General Douglas MacArthur; General Sir Thomas Blamey; Lieutenant General George C.

  • Leapfrogging to Tokyo

    • In the other major theater in the Pacific region, known as the South West Pacific theater, Allied forces were commanded by US General Douglas MacArthur.
    • The southern prong, led by General MacArthur and with larger land forces, would take the Solomons, New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, advancing toward the Philippines.
    • MacArthur greatly supported this strategy in his effort to regain the Philippines.
    • Roosevelt (middle), General MacArthur (left), and Admiral Nimitz (right) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, July 26, 1944, National Archives and Records Administration.
    • In the other major theater in the Pacific region, known as the South West Pacific theater, Allied forces were commanded by US General Douglas MacArthur.

  • The Military Implementation of Containment

    • General Douglas MacArthur was given the command of UN troops in Korea.
    • MacArthur was placed in command on July 8.
    • General Douglas MacArthur then advanced across the 38th parallel into North Korea.
    • For his part, MacArthur denounced Truman's "no-win policy."
    • This photograph depicts General MacArthur observing the Incheon Landing.

  • Containment to Rollback

    • Under the rollback strategy, UN troops under the direction of General Douglas MacArthur advanced across the 38th parallel into North Korea in October of 1950.
    • Douglas MacArthur, moved the United States toward a stronger commitment to the containment policy.
    • Truman blamed MacArthur's focus on victory and adopted a "limited war" policy, shifting his focus to negotiating a settlement, which was finally reached in 1953.
    • For his part, MacArthur denounced Truman's "no-win policy" and the abandonment of the policy of rollback.
    • This photograph depicts General MacArthur observing the Incheon Landing.

  • The Korean War

    • As a result of early Chinese tactical successes, General Douglas MacArthur, who had been in command of U.N. forces in Korea, argued in favor of using nuclear weapons against China and/or the North Korean interior in order to disrupt Chinese supply lines and force negotiations.
    • MacArthur attempted to orchestrate public support for bombing China, as well as for assisting an invasion of the mainland by KMT forces, led by Chiang Kai-shek.
    • MacArthur's stance in this regard contributed to his controversial dismissal by President Truman.
    • In April 1951, Truman relieved MacArthur of his duties and replaced him with Ridgway.
    • General Douglas MacArthur, UN Command (seated), observes the naval shelling of Incheon from USS Mount McKinley, 15 September 1950

  • China and the Bomb

    • Commanded by General Matthew B.
    • As a result of early Chinese tactical successes, General Douglas MacArthur, who had been in command of U.N. forces in Korea, argued in favor of using nuclear weapons against China and/or the North Korean interior in order to disrupt Chinese supply lines and force negotiations.
    • MacArthur attempted to orchestrate public support for bombing China, as well as for assisting an invasion of the mainland by KMT forces, led by Chiang Kai-shek.
    • MacArthur's stance in this regard contributed to his controversial dismissal by President Truman.
    • In April 1951, Truman relieved MacArthur of his duties and replaced him with Ridgway.

  • The Bonus Army

    • Retired Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler, one of the most popular military figures of the time, visited the Bonus Army's camp to back the effort and encourage them.
    • Attorney General William D.
    • Army Chief of Staff, General Douglas MacArthur, commanded the infantry and cavalry supported by six tanks.

  • Nimitz in the Central Pacific

    • Six days later the US Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) divided the theater into three areas: the Pacific Ocean Areas (POA), the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA, commanded by General Douglas MacArthur), and the South East Pacific area.
    • Although the Coral Sea area was under MacArthur's command, Rear Admiral Fletcher (commanding Task Force 17) and Vice Admiral William F. 
    • Halsey (commanding Task Force 16) were directed to continue to report to Nimitz while in the Coral Sea area, not to MacArthur.

  • The Defeat of Japan

    • Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers Douglass MacArthur arrived in Tokyo on August 30, and immediately decreed several laws: no Allied personnel were to assault Japanese people; no Allied personnel were to eat the scarce Japanese food; flying the Hinomaru or "Rising Sun" flag was severely restricted.
    • At a meeting with MacArthur later in September, Emperor Hirohito offered to take blame for the war crimes, but his offer was rejected, and he was never tried.
    • The three powers were represented by Communist Party General Secretary Joseph Stalin, Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and, later, Clement Attlee, and President Harry S.
    • General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander, reading his speech to open the surrender ceremonies, on board USS Missouri (BB-63)

  • American Indians and the War Effort

    • Whether it was due to innate skill as warriors or merely as a reflection of the stereotype of the American Indian warrior spirit perpetuated by American popular culture, American Indian men were generally highly regarded for their military service in World War II.
    • Douglas MacArthur meeting five American Indian troops serving in the US Army Signal Corps, late 1943.