General Douglas MacArthur was born January 26, 1880. His father, Arthur MacArthur, later became a general. Young Douglas at an early age wanted to be like his father. He first went to West Point in 1899 and he had the highest entrance grade in his class. He stayed there until 1903, when he graduated as captain of the corps. Right after this, he went on his first assignment in the Philippines. He was a Colonel in World War I, and he organized the Famous Rainbow Division. When MacArthur went oversees he led his troops over the top in every battle. He was gassed twice but never quit. At the end of the war, he received the "Distinguished Service Medal." At age 38, he was already the youngest brigadier general ever. He was also the youngest Superintendent at West Point ever. .
At age 50, he was the youngest chief of staff ever appointed. In 1935, Franklin Roosevelt sent him to be the military advisor to the Philippine president. His job was to build an army, because he knew that someday the Japanese would attack and they had to be ready. He stayed there until the summer of 1941 when Roosevelt put him in charge of the American Forces in the Philippines. On December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor was attacked and the Philippines were invaded. The situation was heroic but also helpless. He fought the war bravely but near the end MacArthur was sent to Australia and General Wainwright took over. Before leaving MacArthur is famous for saying, "I shall return." MacArthur ran the dangerous Japanese blockade to Australia while the Japanese captured the Philippines. He took his wife and son with him there. He was named the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific He would go ashore to encourage his troops often in battle. In the summer of 1944 Roosevelt held a strategy meeting in Hawaii. He went back, and in October 1944, he invaded the Philippines and won back his first island. Over a short period of time, he won back the entire Philippines with his troops.
