Mac·Ar·thur  (mĭk-är'thər)  American general who served as U.S. chief of staff (1930-1935) and commanded Allied forces in the South Pacific during World War II. After losing the Philippines to the Japanese (1942), he regained the islands (1944) and accepted the surrender of Japan (1945). He commanded the United Nations forces in Korea (1950-1951) until a conflict in strategies led to his dismissal by President Harry S. Truman. His father, Arthur MacArthur (1845-1912), commanded American troops in the Spanish-American War and thwarted Emilio Aguinaldo's insurgence in the Philippines (1899). |
A general of the twentieth century, who commanded the forces of the Allies in the Pacific region in World War II. When Japanese forces were about to conquer the Philippines, MacArthur was forced to leave, but vowed, “I shall return.” He did return two years later and drove out the Japanese. After the final defeat of Japan, he supervised the occupation of that country by the Allies and helped revise the Japanese constitution. During the Korean War, he commanded troops of the United Nations but was removed as commander by President Harry S. Truman. (See Truman-MacArthur controversy.)