Douglas macarthur medal of honor

Arthur macarthur iv born february 21, 1938, manila, philippines is a concert pianist, writer and artist, the only child of united states army general and field marshal douglas macarthur and grandchild of united states army general arthur macarthur, both of whom won the medal of honor. In his acceptance speech of the thayer award at west point in 1962, general douglas macarthur coined the phrase duty, honor, country to outline his opinion about what a military career must embrace. When did douglas macarthur receive the medal of honor answers. Only two fatherson combinations have been awarded the medal of honor since its inception in 1863. Douglas macarthur, also earned the medal of honor for his actions in world war ii, making them one of only two fatherson duos to do so. Douglas grew up hopping from army post to army post across the american western frontier. This was a question for 75 years ago, assuming you meant douglas macarthur, who didnt deserve a moh, as opposed to his father arthur macarthur, who did deserve his. Vinegar joe stilwell cleaning his thompson the walkout burma 1942. A military brat, douglas macarthur was born 26 january 1880, at little rock barracks, little rock, arkansas, to arthur macarthur jr.

Apr 12, 2020 during the 1914 occupation of veracruz, he he was nominated for the medal of honor. Pentru campania din filipine 19411942 a fost decorat cu medal of honor, impreuna cu. Army medal of honor recipients world war ii ms macarthur, douglas congressional medal of honor society douglas macarthur findagrave douglas macarthur photo, grave photos. In those three consecutive shootouts in mexico, macarthur shot down seven men. The decorations, awards and honors of general of the army. Douglas macarthur, like many career officers, was born into a military family.

However, wainwrights friend general douglas macarthur objected. General of the army douglas macarthur and lieutenant. Often popularly known as the american caesar, macarthur was one of the greatest war heroes of the united states of america. During the 1914 occupation of veracruz, he he was nominated for the medal of honor. I would like to see how impressive your battle record is son. In 1917 during world war 1, he was promoted from major to. His awards include the medal of honor, 3 distinguished service crosses, 4 distinguished service medals, 7 silver stars, the distinguished flying. Father and son medal of honor recipients the national medal of. The general douglas macarthur story narrated by walter. Perhaps the most gifted battlefield soldier america ever produced, he orchestrated remarkable victories in france, new guinea, the philippines, and korea while economizing on casualties. He officially accepted the surrender of japan on 2. Douglas macarthur 18801964 rank, duty position and unit at time of action. Douglas macarthur for what they gave on saturday afternoon. Nov 04, 2017 should general macarthur be awarded a medal of honor.

Therefore, they were considered as the first son and father who earned a medal of honor. Rating is available when the video has been rented. They remained the only pair until 2001 when theodore roosevelt was awarded posthumously for his service during the spanishamerican war, theodore roosevelt, jr. If the american congress awarded this metal, another reason is perhaps it is a consolation for his not winning the republical nomination for the presidency, which is heavy on his. Arthur and douglas macarthur and theodore roosevelt and theodore roosevelt, jr. They remained the only pair until 2001, when theodore roosevelt was posthumously awarded for his service during the spanishamerican war, theodore roosevelt jr.

Douglas was born with big shoes to fill, as his father had earned the congressional medal of honor during his time served in the civil war. Army captain, and his wife, mary pinkney hardy macarthur nicknamed pinky. The fatherandson medal of honor winners douglas dad, arthur macarthur was a brave teenaged officer in the civil war, back when the u. For his actions in world war 1, macarthur was nominated a second time for the medal of honor. To date, the only other father and son to be given this honor are former president theodore roosevelt and his son, theodore roosevelt jr. For his defense of the philippines, macarthur was awarded the medal of honor. Douglas macarthur was born january 26, 1880, at little rock barracks, little rock, arkansas, to arthur macarthur, jr. Military can bestow, plus over thirtyfive foreign decorations, which includes the medal of honor, three distinguished service crosses, seven silver stars, the distinguished flying cross, three bronze star medals, two purple hearts and the air. Sep 22, 2007 west points medal of honor recipients.

But at two points in history, fatherson pairs earned these medals for military bravery across generations, basically guaranteeing that the grandson would be a disappointment. Moaa meet the only fatherson medal of honor recipients. Douglas macarthur medal of honor douglas macarthur. At the time, general marshal admitted to the secretary of war, that there is no specific act of general macarthur s to justify the award of the medal of honor under a literal interpretation of the statutes. The father of douglas macarthur and arthur macarthur iii, he was born in massachusetts on june 2, 1845. Commissioned as a first lieutenant in the 24th wisconsin volunteers at the age of 16, arthur received the medal of honor winner at the battle of missionary ridge when he retrieved their regiments flag after the standard bearer had been killed. As i have stated before, a medal of honor was awarded for douglas macarthur. Most recently, secretary of defense james mattis channeled george marshalls treatment of douglas macarthurs 1942 medal of honor award. Douglas macarthur is most known for in his service in the battle of the philippines which took place between 1941 and 1942, he did so well as a general that he was awarded the medal of honor. The macarthur memorial is located atop ghq hill inland from hollandia jayapura. The medal of honor is americas highest award for military valor, and its recipients are rightfully revered for their heroism.

But where douglas earned his for one of his most famous and disciplined moments, his dad received one for bravely doing his job even as confused orders destroyed the discipline of the men around him at missionary ridge. General leonard wood actually nominated macarthur for the medal of honor for the incident in mexico. Father and son medal of honor recipients the national. Douglas macarthur is the american ceasar, and son to arthur macarthur who led the pacification of the natives us guys by adopting the scorched earth policy. Arthur and douglas macarthur were the first father and son to each be awarded a medal of honor. It was dry and businesslike and an extraordinary act of magnanimity by marshall. Arthur macarthur earned medal of honor in confused charge. Macarthur was again recommended for the medal of honor during world war i, but the award was downgraded to the distinguished service cross. When did macarthur earn the medal of honor answers. He received awards for bravery, including the medal of honor. The medal of honor bestowed on macarthur was controversial because it was earned for leadership not gallantry.

In 1917 during world war 1, he was promoted from major to colonel and became chief of staff of the 42nd rainbow. The inexplicable controversial life of general douglas macarthur. Army forces in the far east, general macarthur demonstrated conspicuous leadership in preparing the philippine islands to resist conquest by demonstrating gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. Below is the text of the dictionary of wisconsin history from. Army, retired from active service, served as adviser to the philippines, and returned to active duty as supreme allied commander of u. Fought in world war i, world war ii, and the korean war.

Macarthurs son, the famed world war ii general douglas macarthur, also received the medal for his service in the phillipines campaign. Military can bestow, plus over thirtyfive foreign decorations, which includes the medal of honor, three distinguished service crosses, seven silver stars, the distinguished flying cross, three bronze star medals, two purple hearts and the air medal. He was a recipient of the medal of honor, distinguished service cross, army. Remarkably, when word went out about wainwrights brave stand and his capture at the hands of the japanese, he was recommended for the medal of honor by general george marshall. The first father and son pair to both be awarded the medal of honor began with arthur macarthur during the civil war and later his son douglasmacarthur during. Ga douglas macarthur mcgrawhill financial 1965 the years of macarthur 19411945. Why did douglas macarthur so strenuously oppose awarding. General douglas macarthur and the horse cavalry of 1934. The only two fatherson pairs to receive medals of honor.

When did douglas macarthur receive the medal of honor. Do you know his father arthur macarthur, jr also got the medal. Owing to being with his parents in military locations, arthur did not visit the united states until 1951. Macarthur made a farewell visit to his alma mater on may 12, 1962, it was to receive the sylvanus thayer medal, the highest honor bestowed by the united. The gunfights of general douglas macarthur american. Aug 11, 20 the senate foreign relations committee had hearings on the validity of general macarthur s firing, but the presidents decision was upheld. Douglas macarthur was an iconic figure in american military history and is till date, revered as a symbol of military excellence. At the outbreak of the civil war, he was living in wisconsin and immediately joined the 24th wisconsin volunteer infantry, seeing action at chickamauga, stones river, chattanooga, the atlanta campaign and franklin. Just over eight decades later 18641945, his son, douglas macarthur, would also gain fame for leading u. His father arthur macarthur earned the medal of honor in the. General macarthur was awarded every combat decoration the u. General douglas macarthur is somewhat of a problem for american historiography, being rated by many as one of the great geniuses of the american military, but being accepted by most as a vainglorious megalomaniac, whose belated sacking was the only possible solution to his rampant disdain for his elected masters.

Douglas macarthur was the son of civil war medal of honor recipient, arthur macarthur and mary hardy of norfolk. First, in war ii, generals usually werent awarded the medal of honor. Meet the only fatherson medal of honor recipients moaa. Macarthur when he received the american legion s distinguished service medal in1942, gen. May 26, 2012 when retired general of the army douglas a. They remained the only pair until 2001 when theodore roosevelt was awarded a posthumous medal of honor for his service during the spanish american war. And while he wasnt awarded it the second time either, his reputation would catapult him to places of power and prominence prior to world war 2. Gen wainwright, prisoner of war, who was awarded the. Father and son medal of honor recipients the national medal. Macarthur had already served as chief of staff of the u. Why did douglas macarthur so strenuously oppose awarding the.

The family lived a the transient life of a military family. The gunfights of general douglas macarthur american handgunner. General macarthur in his imperious best informs the kindly colonel that i cant afford cavalry we cant use, and best of all im general douglas macarthur, the country needs me, and they know it, the horses will be destroyed. For perspective, shooting seven enemy soldiers a few years later during world war i was a part of the heroism that won alvin york the medal of honor. During wainwrights imprisonment, general douglas macarthur wrote a memorandum that derided wainwrights leadership abilities, implied that he was both a coward and an alcoholic, and concluded that wainwright should be denied the medal of honor. Seized the colors of his regiment at a critical moment and planted them on the captured works on the crest of missionary ridge. Douglas macarthur city of norfolk, virginia official. His father, arthur, had served in the american civil war. Kosciuszko monument guarding the hudson ensuring there is no passage of british man of war. Should general macarthur be awarded a medal of honor. Arthur and douglas macarthur thus became the first father and son to be awarded the medal of honor. The inexplicable controversial life of general douglas. United states world war ii general of the army 5 stars. Douglas macarthur biography childhood, life achievements.

General, commanding general of all us and philippine armed forces in the philippines. Gi joe douglas macarthur medal of honor army general 2000. Arthur and douglas macarthur were the first fatherson pair to win the medal of honor. The memo contained details of macarthurs recommendation for the medal of honor. The senate foreign relations committee had hearings on the validity of general macarthurs firing, but the presidents decision was upheld. Macarthur made a farewell visit to his alma mater on may 12, 1962, it was to receive the sylvanus thayer. Apr 29, 2019 generals arthur and douglas macarthur both earned the medal of honor, one of only two fatherson teams in history to do so. The mission of the national medal of honor museum and its attendant education center is to commemorate the stories of our medal of honor recipients, unite americans around what it means to be patriotic, and inspire us to find the hero within ourselves. Douglas macarthur, was nominated for the medal of honor twice for service as a brigadier general in world war i, before receiving it for his. Generals arthur and douglas macarthur both earned the medal of honor, one of only two fatherson teams in history to do so.