General Douglas Macarthur Research Paper

General Douglas Macarthur is one of the most prominent, notable and influential leaders in the history of the United States and the United States Army. “He was a thundering paradox of a man, noble and ignoble, inspiring and outrageous, arrogant and shy, the best of me and the worst of men…(Muller).” He was a patriot who served in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and numerous other military campaigns in between. Throughout his tenure, he would fill a plethora of duty positions all around the world. He was a trail blazer; a leader who was admired for his relentless tactics and leadership skills. On January 26, 1880 at the Little Rock Barracks in Arkansas, Douglas Macarthur would be born into the military life. His father, Arthur was a decorated Civil War hero and Army Captain. His mother, Mary was a native of Virginia where her brothers also fought in the Civil War. He had two older brothers, Arthur III who was born on August 1, 1876 and Malcolm who was born on October 17, 1878. However during a measles outbreak in 1883, Malcolm would pass away. Due to his father’s job as an officer in the Army, the Macarthur family would move throughout the United States to various military posts. During these moves and through his youth, Douglas would attend military schools where he excelled well above his peers. For high school

While both father and son were stationed together they inspected various military installations throughout south west Asia to include Japan, China and India. After their return back to the United States, First Lieutenant Macarthur would again receive military orders, this time at the request of President Roosevelt. This new assignment would take him to Washington, D.C. where he would be an aide to White House