5. MacArthur scrambled to find a means of retaining his promotions after the war
During World War One, most of the promotions to field grade ranks were temporary. MacArthur was faced with returning to his rank of major, which he held when the war began. MacArthur lobbied for assignment as Superintendent of West Point, a position which would allow him to retain his Brigadier General rank. He won the appointment, becoming the youngest superintendent since 1817. He moved into his quarters at the Academy in the spring, 1919. As she had when he went to the Academy as a cadet, his mother went with him, taking up residence in the Superintendent’s house on campus. Congress established the length of the course of study as three years. MacArthur argued it should be restored to four.
To MacArthur goes the credit for making the Military Academy a modern institution of higher learning. He modified the curriculum, required all cadets to engage in intramural sports, and created the Cadet Honor Code. He established the Honor Committee, a board elected by the Corps of Cadets, to review all violations of the code and report its findings to him. MacArthur faced resistance against most of his reforms from traditionalists, and many were dropped, only to gradually ease back into the institution on the Hudson. MacArthur spent his off-duty hours wooing a wealthy socialite and divorcee, Louise Brooks. They married in 1922, shortly before MacArthur was transferred to command the Military District of Manila. She went with her new husband to the Philippines, taking her two children with them.