When discussing General Douglas MacArthur’s tenure as Philippine military advisor in the 1930s, nearly all of MacArthur’s biographers describe MacArthur as being excited to accept the rank of Philippine field marshal – even in a nearly non-existent force. They also relate a story that he designed a pompous new uniform for his new rank. This uniform is frequently cited as proof that MacArthur was obsessed with image but light on achievement. BUT -- is the uniform story true? In 2005, Dr. Richard Meixsel published some research in The Journal of Military History that answered this question. An expert on Philippine military history, Dr. Meixsel joined the MacArthur Memorial Podcast to discuss the infamous field marshal uniform. 

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On September 2, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur accepted Japan’s surrender in a carefully choreographed ceremony aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Many people think that MacArthur landed in Japan after the ceremony and then began the Occupation. In fact, MacArthur had already been living in Japan for several days prior to the surrender. What was he doing during that time? How did it influence his thoughts on the surrender and Japan’s future?

MacArthur Memorial historians Jim Zobel and Amanda Williams discussed these questions and more on the 77th anniversary of the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri.

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George Kenney has been described as a “complete airman” and as one of Hap Arnold’s “best-kept secrets.” He wasn’t well known outside of aviation circles in the pre-WWII period and never made a name for himself like Jimmy Doolittle or Carl Spaatz, but he was one of MacArthur’s greatest assets during World War II. Without Kenney, it's arguable that MacArthur’s vision of Island Hopping would never have come to fruition. What is Kenney’s story and how did he shape MacArthur’s understanding of airpower? MacArthur Memorial Historians Amanda Williams and Jim Zobel discuss these questions in the latest MacArthur Memorial Podcast.

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It is no secret that Douglas MacArthur’s relationship with the US Navy and the USMC was complicated in WWII – but what about during the Korean War? The Korean War was a very different war – but just as in WWII, the USN and the USMC would play a major role in MacArthur’s operations. In this latest episode, MacArthur Memorial historians Jim Zobel and Amanda Williams discuss some of those operations and the relationship between MacArthur and the USN and USMC. 

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Interservice rivalry between the US Navy and the US Army was a major factor in the Pacific Theatre during World War II.  While such rivalry is common in all militaries because each service has to compete for funding and stake out a unique identity and mission, some scholars argue that in the case of the Pacific Theatre, the rivalry was so problematic that it led to inefficiencies in the conduct of the war.  They attribute this rivalry to the powerful service interests and to personality problems. MacArthur stands out as one of the key personalities that played a role in this rivalry – but what exactly was his relationship like with the US Navy during WWII? Was there a US Navy anti-MacArthur cabal at work as he claimed? Did his personality alienate his naval counterparts? Was he the reason for a divided command in the Pacific? Join MacArthur Memorial historians Jim Zobel and Amanda Williams for a discussion of these questions.

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It is often said that General Douglas MacArthur didn’t have a staff, he had a court. While there were certainly a few courtiers on his staff, there were also some incredibly gifted men around him – men whose talents helped make MacArthur’s vision for the war in the Pacific a success during World War II, and men whose talents might have led to a different Korean War. General Walter Krueger was one of these men. He is somewhat of an enigma to many people today because he rarely appeared in the communiques coming out of the Pacific during the war and was seemingly uninterested in publicity or politics. MacArthur later compared him to Stonewall Jackson, but MacArthur biographer D. Clayton James compared him to George McClellan. He is often referred to as steady, methodical, and prudent – so much so that he was called “Molasses in January,” – and yet Douglas Southall Freeman considered him one of the greatest American soldiers in history and capable of directing all parts of a campaign. So who was Krueger? How valuable was he to MacArthur? What was their working relationship like?

MacArthur Memorial historians Jim Zobel and Amanda Williams recently sat down to discuss and evaluate the WWII partnership between the two men.

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After the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the subsequent declarations of war against Japan, Germany and Italy, the Roosevelt Administration had to figure out what to do with hundreds of Axis diplomats in the United States. Repatriation was the goal but working that out between the warring powers would take time. While this was worked out, the detainees, their families, and staffs would have to be held somewhere secure. They were ultimately sent to remote luxury hotels in the United States, in the hope that this would encourage reciprocity in the treatment of American diplomats detained abroad. To further explore this fascinating episode in diplomatic/WWII history, the MacArthur Memorial Podcast interviewed Harvey Solomon, author of Such Splendid Prisons: Diplomatic Detainment in America during World War II. 

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When most people think of the USN admirals in the Pacific during WWII, Nimitz, Halsey, Kinkaid, and Spruance come easily to mind. Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee is less well known. A career naval officer and a seven-time Olympic medalist, during World War II he played a key role in the Pacific as one of the USN’s top combat admirals. To shed some light on Lee’s career and legacy, the MacArthur Memorial podcast hosted Paul Stillwell, author of Battleship Commander: The Life of Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee Jr, for a discussion of Lee's life and legacy.

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The MacArthur Memorial is located in Norfolk, VA – the hometown of General Douglas MacArthur’s mother – Mary Hardy. MacArthur himself was born in Little Rock, AR and as the child of a career Army officer, he spent most of his youth moving from post to post. So what place was most like a hometown for him? Was it Norfolk (as he sometimes claimed)? Was it Little Rock? Was it a military fort in the American West where his family had good memories? Was it Manila where his son was born? 

If you are thinking Milwaukee, WI – you are correct. That is the place with the longest, most significant, multigenerational MacArthur family connection. Arthur MacArthur Sr., Arthur MacArthur Jr., and Douglas MacArthur all lived in the city at various times in their lives and were all honored as citizens of the city. 

Join MacArthur Memorial historians Jim Zobel and Amanda Williams for a discussion of the MacArthur family and their fascinating connection to Milwaukee. 

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On the MacArthur Memorial's WWI History Podcast, Jim Zobel and Amanda Williams discussed the relationship between Douglas MacArthur and George Marshall during WWI. While both men were certainly aware of each other during that war, contrary to what some MacArthur biographers suggest, there were no seeds of antagonism between them during that war. By WWII and the Korean War, both were still serving in positions of great importance and their relationship was very consequential and increasingly complicated. By all accounts, both men worked well together - even if they didn't always understand each other. That being said, by the end of his life MacArthur was firmly convinced that Marshall ultimately betrayed him. Why? To unravel this question, Jim and Amanda sat down for a second discussion to dissect the relationship of these men during World War II and the Korean War.

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