Reminiscences

473 Pages·2012·6.8 MB·English

by  Macarthur

REMINISCENCES
REMINISCENCES
GENERAL OF THE ARMY
Douglas MacArthur

BLUEJACKET BOOKS
Naval Institute Press
Annapolis, Maryland
This book has been brought to publication by the generous assistance of Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest.
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
© 1964 by the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publisher.
First Bluejacket Books printing, 2001
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data MacArthur, Douglas, 1880–1964.
Reminiscences / Douglas MacArthur.
p. cm.
Originally published: New York : McGraw-Hill, [1964]
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-61251-173-3
1. MacArthur, Douglas, 1880–1964. 2. Generals—United States—Biography. 3.
United States. Army—Biography. 4, United States—History, Military—20th century. I.
Title.
E745.M28 2001
355’.0092—dc21
[B] 00-051530
Preface
T
hese reminiscences are neither history,
biography nor a diary, although they comprise something of each of these
categories. What is presented is far from a complete account even of all the
incidents in which I had a part, but merely my recollections of events, refreshed
by a reference to my own memoranda and a free use of staff studies and
historical records made under my direction and supervision. It may assist the
future historian when he seeks to account for the motives and reasons which
influenced some of the actions in the great drama of war. It is also my hope that
it will prove of some interest to the rising generation, who may learn therefrom
that a country and government such as ours is worth fighting for, and dying for,
if need be.
The greatest difficulty confronting me was that of recounting my share in the
many vital events involved without giving my acts an unwarranted prominence.
In preparing this record, penned by my own hand, of my life and my
participation in our great struggles for national existence, human liberty and
political equality, I make no pretence to literary merit. The motive that induces
me is not that of authorship. The import of the subject matter of my narrative is
my only claim to attention. The statements of facts are a matter of documentary
evidence. The comments are my own and show how I saw the matters treated of,
whether others saw them in the same light or not.
Respectfully dedicating this work to the millions of armed men and devoted
women who participated in the great wars of this country, I leave it as a heritage
to my wife and son.
Douglas MacArthur
March, 1964
Contents
PART ONE Early Years, 1880–1912
PART TWO Washington and Veracruz, 1912–1917
PART THREE World War I, 1917–1919
PART FOUR In Defense of Peace, 1919–1941
PART FIVE World War II: Retreat from the Philippines, 1941–1943
PART SIX World War II: The Allied Offensive, 1943–1944
PART SEVEN World War II: Conquest of Japan, 1944–1945
PART EIGHT The Occupation of Japan, 1945–1950
PART NINE Frustration in Korea, 1950–1951
PART TEN Soldier’s Return, 1951–1964
Index
MAPS Boundaries of the Southwest Pacific Area and the Extent of the
Japanese Advance
Westward Drive along New Guinea
Landings on Leyte
Battle of Leyte Gulf
The Envelopment of Manila
Map of Korea
Inchon and Its Harbor: Low Tide
ILLUSTRATIONS1880–1936 Boyhood in Texas · Vera Cruz · World War I and the
Rainbow Division · Bonus March · West Point
1937–1945 Corregidor · New Guinea · Leyte · Luzon · Manila ·
Japanese Surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri
1946–1964 Tokyo · Korea · Wake Island · San Francisco · New York
· Washington · West Point