Douglas MacArthur was "an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army who was Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the Philippines Campaign, which made him and his father Arthur MacArthur, Jr., the first father and son to be awarded the medal. He was one of only five men ever to rise to the rank of General of the Army in the U.S. Army, and the only man ever to become a field marshal in the Philippine Army.[1]
He was born 26 January 1880 in Little Rock, Arkansas, the son of Arthur MacArthur and Mary Hardy.[2]
He was married to Jean Marie Faircloth 30 April 1937 in Manhattan, New York City, New York.[3] They were the parents of Arthur MacArthur, born 21 February 1938 in Manila, Philippines.[4]
Douglas MacArthur died 5 April 1964 in Washington, D.C. at the age of 84.[5] [6]
New York Times Obituary[7] 6 April 1964
M'Arthur Is Dead; Led Allied Force in Japan's Defeat
General of Army, 84, Also Commanded U.N. Troops in the Korean Conflict.
Johnson Lauds Soldier
Death, After 3 Operations, Is Attributed to Failure of Liver and Kidneys
By Jack Raymond, Special to the New York Times
Washington, April 5--General of the Army Douglas MacArthur died today after a determined fight for life. He was 84 years old.
The general, who led the Allied victory over Japan in World War II and commanded the United Nations forces in the Korean War, died at 2:39 P.M. at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he had been a patient since March 2. Death was attributed to actue kidney and liver failure.
Life had ebbed slowly. the general had undergone three operations to relieve common duct obstruction, esophageal bleeding and intestinal obstruction with perforation. Despite the operations, blood transfusions and artificial assistance for vital internal functions, he had regaled hospital attendants and visitors with reminiscences until Friday night, when he sank into a "peaceful coma."
Johnson Praises General
The general's wife, Jean; their only child, Arthur, 36; and his wartime aide and principal assistant, Maj. Gen. Courtney Whitney, were at the hospital at the end.
President Johnson, leading the nation in mourning, said:
"One of America's greatest heroes is dead. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur fought his last fight with all the valor that distinguished him in war and peace."
Tributes to the general poured in from around the globe.
Mr. Johnson ordered that American flags be flown at half-staff around the world until after the burial next Saturday in the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, VA.
The body of General MacArthur was taken to New York City, where it will lie in repose Tuesday. On Wednesday it will be returned to Washington, to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda until Thursday noon.
Nineteen gun salutes will be fired at noon tomorrow and on Saturday at military installations in the United States and in the Pacific area.
General MacArthur, one of the most decorated as well as one of the most controversial American military leaders, was the senior five-star officer at the time of his death.
Born on an Army frontier post in Indian territory, near Little Rock, Ark., on Jan. 26, 1880, General MacArthur had an active military service that spanned nearly half a century before his forced retirement in 1951.
Since his retirement, General MacArthur had served first as chairman of the board of Remington Rand, Inc., and then of the Sperry Rand corporation.
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