Douglas MacArthur

born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on 26 January 1880
graduated from the United States Military Academy, 1903
was commissioned a second lieutenant of engineers and served in the Philippines, 1903-1904
was promoted to first lieutenant, April 1904
was an engineer officer and aide to the commander of the Pacific Division, 1904-1906
served with the 2d Engineer Battalion, attended the Engineer School and was aide to President Theodore Roosevelt, 1906-1908
was troop commander, adjutant, and was Army Service Schools instructor at Fort Leavenworth, 1908-1912
was promoted to captain, February 1911
was on the General Staff, 1913-1917
took part in the Vera Cruz Expedition
was promoted to major, December 1915, and colonel, August 1917
was chief of staff of the 42d Division in France, 1917-1918
was promoted to brigadier general in the National Army, June 1918, took part in Marne operations and commanded the 84th Infantry Brigade in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives
commanded the 42d Division in the Sedan offensive, 1918
served with the Army of Occupation, 1918-1919
was superintendent of the United States Military Academy, 1919-1922
became a brigadier general in the Regular Army, January, 1920
married Louise Cromwell Brooks, 1922 (divorced 1929)
was promoted to major general, January 1925
successively commanded the District of Manila, 1922-1923, the Fourth and Third Corps Areas, 1925-1928, and the Ninth Corps Area, 1930
was promoted to temporary general, November 1930
was Chief of Staff of the United States Army, 21 November 1930-1 October 1935; stressed Army deficiencies in personnel and materiel, presided over development of plans for industrial mobilization and manpower procurement, established an Air Force headquarters, administered Army control over the Civilian Conservation Corps, and supervised eviction of "bonus marchers" from Washington
resumed his permanent rank of major general and became military adviser to the government of the Philippines, 1935-1941
married Jean Marie Faircloth, 1937
retired from active service, December 1937 but continued as adviser to the Philippine government
was recalled to active duty as lieutenant general and named commander, United States Army Forces in the Far East, July 1941
was promoted to temporary general, December 1941
led American forces in Pacific campaigns as Supreme Allied Commander, 1941-1945
was promoted to temporary General of the Army, December 1944
received the Medal of Honor for Philippine defense preparations and operations
was appointed Supreme Allied Commander, Japan, 1945
rank as General of the Army made permanent, April 1946
was designated commander in chief Far East Command 1947
upon the North Korean invasion of South Korea was designated commander, United Nations Command in the Far East, July, 1950
was relieved of his command by President Truman, April 1951
died in Washington, D.C., on 5 April 1964.

Taken from: COMMANDING GENERALS AND CHIEFS OF STAFF, 1775-1982, William Gardner Bell, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D.C., 1983

Last updated 31 January 2021

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Douglas MacArthur

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