General MacArthur's Farewell to West Point Quiz

Answer:

Douglas MacArthur lived from 1880 until 1964. After a long career in the United States Army, and serving in both World War One and Two, he had risen to the ranks of General (US army) and Field Marshal (Philippine Army) before he finally retired - or so he thought. Coming from a military family, the army life seemed to be almost pre-destined for MacArthur, and he indeed did his family proud, right from the very beginning of his training at West Point, where he graduated at the top of his class in 1903. Over the course of his career, he was nominated three times for the Medal of Honour, and was awarded it once, matching the Medal of Honour awarded to his own father, Arthur MacArthur. 1930 saw him promoted to Chief of Staff of the entire US Army, and in 1935 he took on the role of Military Adviser to the government of the Philippines, serving in that position until 1937 when he retired - only to be recalled to active duty as Commander of the US Army in the Far East. In this role, he saw it through to the conclusion of WWII, accepted Japan's surrender in 1945, and then headed the occupation of that country until 1951.

This fine soldier served in various other areas of war over his long career - with honour and distinction - but MacArthur's downfall was his arrogance, his conviction that he always knew best, and his clashes with President Harry Truman over the debacle in Korea. Ultimately, this resulted in Truman firing MacArthur in 1951 - creating a huge controversy. Later Presidents would call on MacArthur for advice, which he freely gave, but the shadows were lengthening for him. He made his farewell address to Congress in 1951 (interrupted continuously by thunderous applause), worked in various advisory capacities for another ten years, and then, now very frail, made his final, deeply moving speech (above) to the cadets at West Point in 1962 - the place where his long career had begun. Vale, soldier, you served your country well.