Doug in Korea
By the end of World War II, MacArthur had been embroiled in more controversy than one could reasonably expect during a military career but he was far from finished. The notorious Unit 731 was a Japanese biological and chemical warfare research and development team. Rather than being tried and punished for their hideous crimes during the war, Unit 731 received immunity in exchange for germ warfare data. MacArthur was in charge of confirming and enforcing war crime sentences handed down by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, so he had a major say in allowing Unit 731 to avoid punishment.
After becoming the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Japan, MacArthur was responsible for helping Japan rebuild after the Second World War. He handed over power to Japan in 1949. Within a year, America was involved in the Korean War, and once more, MacArthur was called upon to take command. Things began well as MacArthur’s men were able to outflank the North Koreans, recapture Seoul and force the enemy to retreat home in disarray.
Alas, MacArthur’s arrogance once again cost many lives. The CIA warned him that the Chinese had around 200,000 troops in North Korea with more to come. As was the case in World War II, MacArthur ignored the information and was stunned when his army was overrun by a massive Chinese force. He had to retreat within weeks of the attack and Seoul fell again in January 1951. Tired of MacArthur’s incompetence and his public statements which contradicted what was coming out of the White House, Truman removed MacArthur from command.
That the decision was met with public disapproval speaks volumes about MacArthur’s masterful cultivation of his public image. He made his last official appearance on April 19, 1951, and retired from military service. After his failure to win the Republican nomination for President in 1952, he moved to New York City with his family and lived in suites at the luxurious Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Even in his twilight years, MacArthur was able to advise presidents; he spoke to President Kennedy soon after the Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961. He died of biliary cirrhosis on April 5, 1964, and received a state funeral.
MacArthur’s Legacy
Even today, the mere mention of MacArthur’s name engenders fierce debate. On the one hand, he was a highly decorated war hero who reached supreme heights within the United States Army. He was a five-star general and Field Marshal who commanded troops in World War II and the Korean War.
On the other hand, MacArthur managed to avoid a lot of public criticism in his lifetime due to a well-crafted public image. His blunders in the Philippines and New Guinea campaigns would have ended the careers of other men. MacArthur was able to bumble on for several more years. Even in the end, he still carried enough respect to ensure President Kennedy called upon him for advice. So readers, do you believe MacArthur deserves criticism or should he receive some leeway?