Douglas MacArthur

Douglas MacArthur (http://www.medalofhonor.com/ DouglasMacArthur.htm)

A hero is someone who puts themselves at risk for another. Douglas MacArthur did just that. In fact, Douglas MacArthur has done that many times. MacArthur has been pushed to the limits in World War 1, World War 2, and the Korean War. No average person could do a task like this, only a true hero could.

MacArthur at West Point (http://www.medalofhonor.com/ DouglasMacArthur.htm)

Douglas entered World War 1 with a blossoming career behind him. He had graduated West Point Military School, the top army college. When entering the war, Douglas was even promoted to lead the special Rainbow Division to fight in France. Unlike other senior officers, Douglas led his men from the front and believed to be as close to the fighting as possible. He would stare the enemy in the eyes and would refuse to wear a helmet or gas mask to show his soldiers how to be brave; consequently he had respiratory problems for the rest of his life. General Charles T. Menoher said that he was the “greatest fighting man” in the army. By the end of the war he had won many strategic battles, earned 7 Silver Stars for his bravery and had been promoted to become the youngest general in the army.

Next in World War 2, Douglas was Commander of all forces in the Far East. When Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941, hours later Japan turned its attention to where Douglas was currently residing, the Philippines. Douglas was forced to retreat in order to protect his new wife Jean and 3 year old Arthur. After that he declared Manila (the capital of the Philippines) an open city, this meant Douglas would not even try to defend it. Because of this I think Douglas is a true hero. He didn’t want to risk the lives of thousands of people by fighting so he became the bigger person and declared it open but he left with one message to the Japanese, “I shall return”. Later on in the war, he delivered his promise and freed the Philippines from the Japanese.

After the war was over Douglas began the most noble deed I have ever known. Douglas decided to help his former enemy, Japan, rebuild its country since they were heavily bombed by the United States. Douglas put away his beliefs and decided to help out his fellow man. He gave the Japanese thousands of tons of food to help out their hunger and under Douglas’s leadership, the Japanese citizens and businesses gained new freedoms. For example, woman gained the right to vote and a new constitution was made that took power from the emperor and gave it to the people.

Douglas was still wildly popular both in Japan and the U.S. Douglas could finally relax and enjoy his family and watch his son grow up. Douglas had been fighting for freedom and Democracy and everything good until he was 71, a feat not many have done. When Douglas died on April 5, 1964, people from all over the world praised him as one of the best soldiers to ever live. Douglas had always enjoyed the spotlight, but he had a more modest version of his success. “A general is just as good or bad as the troops under his command make him, mine were great,” he said when he was eighty-two years old. Douglas MacArthur was a true hero, great leader and father to his men, family and country.