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General of the Army · U.S. Army

Douglas MacArthur

General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions between July 7 and 12, 1941 in Bataan Peninsula, Luzon, Philippine Islands during World War II.

World War II July 7 - 12, 1941

General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions between July 7 and 12, 1941 in Bataan Peninsula, Luzon, Philippine Islands during World War II. At the time he was serving with U.S. Army Forces in the Far East. MacArthur was 61 years old.

The medal was presented on June 30, 1942. Melborne, Australia, presented by Nelson Trussler Johnson, Minister of Australia.

MacArthur was born on January 26, 1880 in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. His Medal of Honor is credited to Ashland, Ashland County, Wisconsin. MacArthur died on April 5, 1964 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 84. He is buried at Old Norfolk City Hall Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia.

MacArthur is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 50 credited to Wisconsin.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous leadership in preparing the Philippine Islands to resist conquest, for gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against invading Japanese forces, and for the heroic conduct of defensive and offensive operations on the Bataan Peninsula. He mobilized, trained, and led an army which has received world acclaim for its gallant defense against a tremendous superiority of enemy forces in men and arms. His utter disregard of personal danger under heavy fire and aerial bombardment, his calm judgement in each crisis, inspired his troops, galvanized the spirit of resistance of the Filipino people, and confirmed the faith of the American people in their Armed Forces.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

How he died

  • Manner of death: natural causes
  • Cause of death: kidney failure
  • Age at death: 84
  • Resting place: Old Norfolk City Hall Memorial

Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Douglas MacArthur received:

Air MedalDistinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Service MedalPurple HeartArmy of Occupation MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign MedalCroix de guerre 1939–1945Grand Cross of the Legion of HonourMexican Service MedalMilitary Order of ItalyNavy Distinguished Service MedalOrder of Merit for National FoundationOrder of the CrownOrder of the White EagleOrder of the White LionPhilippine Campaign MedalPhilippine Legion of HonorWorld War I Victory MedalWorld War II Victory Medal

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

1918 · World War I

Meuse-Argonne Offensive

Result: Allied victory; End of World War I

6 Medal of Honor recipients

 1918 · World War I

Battle of Saint-Mihiel

Result: Allied victory

6 Medal of Honor recipients

 1950 · Korean War

Battle of Inchon

Result: United Nations victory; Beginning of the North Korean withdrawal from South Korea; Start of the UN...

7 Medal of Honor recipients

 1918 · World War I

Second Battle of the Marne

Result: Entente victory

3 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: World War II, World War I, Borneo campaign, New Guinea campaign, Philippines campaign of 1944–1945, Korean War, Occupation of Japan, Philippines Campaign.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Little Rock — map
  • Died: Washington, D.C. — map
  • Buried: MacArthur Memorial — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Wisconsin →

Timeline

  1. January 26, 1880
    Born in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas
  2. July 7 - 12, 1941
    Act of valor — Bataan Peninsula, Luzon, Philippine Islands
    Age 61. U.S. Army Forces in the Far East
  3. June 30, 1942
    Medal of Honor presented
    Melborne, Australia, presented by Nelson Trussler Johnson, Minister of Australia
  4. April 5, 1964
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 84.
  5. Resting place
    Old Norfolk City Hall Memorial
    Norfolk, Virginia

Biography

Douglas MacArthur (26 January 1880 – 5 April 1964) was an American general. He served with distinction in World War I; as chief of staff of the United States Army from 1930 to 1935; as Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area, from 1942 to 1945; as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers overseeing the occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1951; and as head of the United Nations Command in the Korean War from 1950 to 1951. He is one of only five people to hold the rank of General of the Army, and the only person to hold the rank of Field Marshal in the Philippine Army. MacArthur, a son of Medal of Honor recipient Arthur MacArthur Jr., graduated first in his class from the U.S.

From the Wikipedia article “Douglas MacArthur”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Named in his honor

Further reading

More World War II recipients from Wisconsin

GE Gerald Leon Endl Staff Sergeant · Army World War II · 1944 ✦ AM Andrew Miller Staff Sergeant · Army World War II · 1944 ✦ BN Beryl Richard Newman First Lieutenant · Army World War II · 1944 CM Charles E. Mower Sergeant · Army World War II · 1944 ✦ John Louis Jerstad Major · Air Force World War II · 1943 ✦ TO Truman O. Olson Sergeant · Army World War II · 1944 ✦
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.