Douglas Macarthur In World War 2

 

 

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Douglas MacArthur's role in WW2 was that of commander of the U.S. Forces in the Far East. Douglas MacArthur in World War 2 led America's withdrawal from the Philippines and the war strategy implementations from his post in Australia. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he was sent to the Philippines to defend the islands against an impending attack. His efforts failed, but the necessary withdrawal of American troops from the Philippines only made the general more determined to turn the tide and take back the islands.

Douglas MacArthur in WWii, launched the New Guinea campaign in 1942 and directed the campaigns that eventually liberated the Philippines. General Douglas MacArthur in WW2 was appointed Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific, spending two years "island hopping" in a military move that would eventually recapture all the major islands the Japanese had invaded. In October 1944, Douglas MacArthur waded through the water to reach the shores of Leyte, where he made one of his most famous declarations of WW2: "I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God, our forces stand again on Philippine soil." General Douglas MacArthur in WW2 was finally given the rank of General of the Army, also called a "five-star general," for his display of military talent.

Douglas MacArthur in World War 2 was the Allied representative that signed the documents of surrender with Japan aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo on September 2, 1945. Following WWII, General Douglas MacArthur supervised the demobilization of Japan's military forces and the restoration of economic, political and social stability in Japan. He also assisted in the drafting of a new constitution and the implementation of a democratic form of government and other major reforms. Not only did Douglas MacArthur receive the Medal of Honor for his leadership during World War II, he also received several awards from other countries he help to liberate.

The Cold War

Following the communist North Korean invasion of South Korea on June 25, 1950, Douglas MacArthur became involved in the cold war. He was appointed Supreme Commander of the United Nations forces, led by the United States, which were sent to aid South Korea in an attempt to stop the spread of communism. General MacArthur organized a very successful landing at Inchon which resulted in the U.N. Forces driving

the North Korean army back across the 38th parallel, the dividing point between the two countries, to within miles of the Chinese border, despite the fact that it would provoke retaliation from China.

When China did intervene, U.N. forces were forced into a desperate retreat; MacArthur wanted to bomb China is response, but his request for permission was denied by President Harry Truman. When General MacArthur threatened to escalate hostilities with China, defying Truman's war policy, the president fired him on April 11, 1951, ending his command and his military career.

On April 17, 1951, General Douglas MacArthur returned to the United States to a hero's welcome. Within two days, General Douglas MacArthur announced his final retirement from military service to a joint session of Congress by saying, "Old soldiers never die; they just fade away."