MacArthur Memorial Podcast

Emory Upton is considered one of the most influential reformers of the U.S. Army in American history. He is sometimes referred to as the Army’s version of Alfred Thayer Mahan. A respected combat veteran of the American Civil War, today Upton is remembered for successfully leading infantry against an entrenched enemy and also for suggesting that “excessive civilian control of the military” was the...

As the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, John J. Pershing served as a mentor to a generation of generals who later led the United States to victory in World War II. Some of these young officers included: Douglas MacArthur, George C. Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar N. Bradley, and George S. Patton. In 2013, U.S. Army Major Andrew Forney sat down with the Memori...

From the Scottish Highlands to America, General Douglas MacArthur's ancestors have played prominent roles in world history. As the old Scottish adage goes: "there is nothing older, except the hills, MacArtair and the Devil." This podcast tells the story of the MacArthurs from 1200 AD to the birth of Douglas MacArthur and his son. Have a comment about this episode? Send us a text mes...

General Douglas MacArthur reportedly liked Admiral William F. Halsey from the moment he met him – describing him as "blunt, outspoken, [and] dynamic." The feeling was mutual, and Halsey later referred to MacArthur as a lifelong friend. Throughout his long career, Halsey was an enormously popular commander and famously earned his Naval Aviators wings in 1935 at the age of 52. Nicknamed “B...

General MacArthur was a self-proclaimed child of the "Blue and Gray." He grew up hearing stories of his father's exploits with the 24th Wisconsin during the American Civil War and his Virginia born mother idolized Robert E. Lee. From West Point, to engineering assignments, to Mexico, parts of MacArthur's early military career would mimic Lee's early career. In 2013, U.S. A...

Today Jean MacArthur is largely in the shadow of her husband General Douglas MacArthur. By all accounts however, she was a vital member of his inner circle and many of her husband’s biographers considered her an “unusual” but extraordinary woman. Part I covered Mrs. MacArthur’s life up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Part II gives a behind the scenes look at her experiences from the flight...

Today Jean MacArthur is largely in the shadow of her husband General Douglas MacArthur. By all accounts however, she was a vital member of his inner circle and many of her husband’s biographers considered her an “unusual” but extraordinary woman. She came from a family with a deeply rooted tradition of military service and had a great personal interest in American military history. In possession o...

Are leaders born or made? Why do places like West Point seem to generate extremely high numbers of business, military, and political leaders? To answer these questions, we sat down with Major Adrienne M. Harrison - a West Point graduate and a veteran of three tours in Iraq. Major Harrison also holds a PhD in History and at the time of this interview was serving as an Assistant Professor of History...

On October 19, 2014 the MacArthur Memorial, the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation, and the Embassy of the Philippines hosted a special reception to commemorate the October 20, 1944 Leyte Landings. The Memorial's Archivist Jim Zobel gave a short lecture on MacArthur's road back to the Philippines. Have a comment about this episode? Send us a text message! (Note: we can only read the te...

On July 24, 2014, the MacArthur Memorial hosted Mark Perry – author of the book: The Most Dangerous Man in America: The Making of Douglas MacArthur. Perry addressed the Roosevelt/MacArthur relationship and MacArthur’s service during World War II – shedding new light on the General and his legacy. Have a comment about this episode? Send us a text message! (Note: we can only read the texts, we can&#...

The seizure of the Admiralty Islands in February 1944 was one of the boldest operations of MacArthur’s Southwest Pacific campaign and perhaps the war in the Pacific. By capturing the islands, the 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Navy destroyers, and a handful of Seabees ensured that MacArthur would go on to become the Liberator of the Philippines. Have a comment about this episode? Send us a text messag...

In April 2014, as part of the MacArthur Memorial’s 50th Anniversary Commemoration, the Memorial hosted a special speaker series. One of the speakers, Nimrod Frazer, author of the book Send the Alabamians: World War I Fighters in the Rainbow Division, spoke about Douglas MacArthur and his time with the 42nd Rainbow Division in France. Mr. Frazer is a Korean War veteran and a recipient of the Silver...

In April 2014, as part of the MacArthur Memorial’s 50th Anniversary Commemoration, the Memorial hosted a special speaker series. One of the speakers, Mitchell Yockelson, author of the book “MacArthur: America’s General,” gave a brief overview of some of General MacArthur’s World War II service. MacArthur: America’s General was published by Thomas Nelson as part of the General’s series. Have a comm...

In April 2014, as part of the MacArthur Memorial’s 50th Anniversary Commemoration, the Memorial hosted a special speaker series. One of the speakers, Dan Rice, coauthored the book: West Point Leadership: Profiles of Courage. This book features hundreds of short biographies of prominent West Point graduates – including leaders like MacArthur, Eisenhower, Grant, Pershing, and Petraeus. While at the...

General Douglas MacArthur died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on April 5, 1964. Years before, President John F. Kennedy had authorized an elaborate State Funeral for MacArthur. On the General’s death, President Johnson reaffirmed Kennedy’s directive and ordered that MacArthur be buried "with all the honor a grateful nation can bestow on a departed hero." Over the next week, MacArthur...

The air war in the Pacific Theater during World War II is often overlooked and over-shadowed by the battles which took place in the skies above Europe. In the Pacific, the Far East Air Forces – “MacArthur’s Air Force” - operated out of more than 50 different islands, flew over an area larger than the United States, and carried the war from Australia to Japan itself, all while turning men and aircr...

On April 9th 1942, Bataan fell to the Japanese. The defenders had bravely held out, but the Japanese juggernaut was unstoppable. As prisoners of war they were forced to march many miles on what became known as the Bataan Death March, only to stop at the infamous Camp O’Donnell, where thousands died from starvation, sickness, and the brutal treatment of their captors. In the months and years that f...

Between 1905-1906, a twenty-five year old Lieutenant Douglas MacArthur traveled through Asia with his father Lieutenant General Arthur MacArthur and his mother Mary Hardy MacArthur. Over a period of nine months, he traveled 19,949 miles from Japan to Calcutta, across the plains of India, to the Khyber Pass in Afghanistan, and south to what is now Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Vietnam. He then traveled...

Arthur MacArthur III, older brother of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, was a United States naval officer for thirty one years. He was awarded the Navy Cross, the Navy’s second highest award next to the Medal of Honor, and the Distinguished Service Medal for service in World War I. He was a man of his own making and during his life he never lived in the shadow of his now famous younger broth...

French military historian Henri Lachouque once wrote: “An old adage runs ‘There is no Temple without a God and no Throne without a Guard.’ But there are guards and Guards.” Lachouque was referring to Napoleon’s Imperial Guard, an elite unit which served as the French Emperor’s personal bodyguard and also as his “shock troops” to whom he turned for the most difficult assignments on the battlefield....

On June 13, 1899, Douglas MacArthur entered the United States Military Academy at West Point. It was the fulfillment of a boyhood ambition and it was to be the start of his extraordinary military career. But, it was nearly over before it began. A little over a year into his time at West Point, a controversy erupted over allegations that hazing at West Point had resulted in the death of a cadet. As...

When most people think of General MacArthur, they think of his ability to communicate - his ability to know the value of a good photo-op, his ability to spin stories to reporters and his ability to make dramatic headlines. In many respects, his media savvy was an innate talent. In other more technical aspects though, such as understanding the influence of the media, its ability to sway public opin...

Baseball came to Japan in the late nineteenth century and quickly grew in popularity. As Japanese interest in the sport grew, Japanese leagues and school teams were formed. Visiting American teams played some of these Japanese teams – and usually won – but even in defeat, Japanese baseball players were learning from the best players in the world and were demonstrating great skill. In 1934, an Amer...

In September 1945, with the surrender and occupation of Japan, drastic changes took place that altered the way of life for the Japanese people. Within an incredibly short period of time, Japanese society experienced a complete social revolution. The revised Meiji Constitution that came out of the Occupation enfranchised the people of Japan, but most particularly, the women of the country with the...

General MacArthur’s arrival in Australia in March of 1942 was an electrifying event for many Australians. His presence sent a strong signal that the United States was committed to the defense of Australia and to the war against Japan. MacArthur uttered his famous “I Shall Return” promise in Australia, and it was there that he began gathering forces for the next phase of the war. By July 1942, MacA...