Famous Mason: Brother General Douglas MacArthur
30 April 24
MacArthur was an inspiring paradox
By W Bro Stephen Dally
Brother General Douglas MacArthur of the United States Army was not only inspiring but also outrageous and won a place in Australian history.
The history of Freemasonry is credited with many outstanding members, from musicians, artists, writers and authors, sailors, soldiers and airmen. Among the notable soldiers in history such as the Duke of Wellington, in modern times one of our outstanding soldiers was a young man born in a United States Army Post in the nineteenth century.
Douglas Macarthur was born in 1880 at Little Rock, Arkansas. His father Captain Arthur Macarthur (later General) was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honour during the Civil War, and came from a military family who helped to settle the American Western frontiers.
MacArthur travelled with his parents to a number of army posts and gained much knowledge on the family’s military background. Entering West Point Military College he graduated four years later with the highest points and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in the Engineer Corps. His first posting was to Japan where he was his father’s secretary. His father, now a Brigadier General attached to the U.S. Embassy, was to observe the Japanese/ Russian War. Following the Japan posting he became Aide to President Roosevelt (helped by his Grandfather, father and mother who often petitioned the Defence Department to further MacArthur’s career!).
MacArthur saw his first active service when he took part in the US Punitive expedition to Vera Cruz in April 1914. In 1917 he was appointed Chief of Staff to the 42nd Division (Rainbow) and took the Division to France when the US declared war on Germany. The Division was called the ‘Rainbow Division’ as it comprised mainly National Guard Units from 26 States and the District of Columbia. MacArthur distinguished himself during the war and was promoted to Brigadier General just before the war ended.
Following WWI he served as the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, where he made many changes. In 1922 MacArthur returned to the Philippines and in 1932 was appointed Chief of Staff to the U.S. Army. The 1930s throughout the Western World were a trying time for all sections of the community, industrial workers, Governments and particularly soldiers when there was little money to be spent on defence. MacArthur’s role as Chief of Staff was thorny as there was uneasiness about the growth of Communism and MacArthur made people aware of the fear.
In 1932 thousands of WWI Returned Soldiers marched with their families to Washington demanding their WWI bonuses. Camping in and around Washington they were dispersed by soldiers in battle gear and bayonets and cavalry with drawn swords. led by MacArthur! Macarthur justified his actions by his fear of communism.
In 1935 President Roosevelt sent him to the Philippines as an advisor to the Philippine Army. Although there were plenty of warnings when the Japanese invaded the Philippines the Army was ill-prepared. Roosevelt recalled Macarthur to the army and appointed him Commander in Chief. The Japanese advanced quickly and MacArthur withdrew to Bataan and Corregidor.
With the fear of Japanese attacks on Australia MacArthur was sent to Australia where he was appointed Commander in Chief of all Land Forces with Australian General Tom Blamey as his second in Command. Macarthur, with US, Australian and NZ forces defeated the Japanese in PNG. Although he received credit for the victory he managed the campaign from his HQ in Brisbane: He was often critical of the Australian troops in PNG and failed to give them credit for Australian victories such as Milne Bay and Kokoda.
Macarthur received the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay on board the USS Battleship Missouri and became the ultimate ruler in Japan, rewriting the Japanese Constitution. When war broke out between South and North Korea the first United Nations action took place and Macarthur was appointed UN Commander. Falling out with President Harry Truman over his strategic policies he was recalled to the United States and subsequently retired.
Douglas MacArthur was raised as a Master Mason in the Philippines in 1936, made 32 Degree in the Philippines in 1936, 33 Degree in the US Embassy in Tokyo in 1946. He was a keen Mason and changed Japanese law to allow Japanese to join Freemasonry. In retirement, he was a Shriner attending the Nile Shrine Chapter in Washington.
March 2018 Freemason - Page 16