Conflict in Korea
June 1950 marked the beginning of the war in Korea. MacArthur had already helped South Korea stay independent from communist North Korea and argued that forces should be sent into North Korea to completely defeat it, while President Truman worried that this move would trigger a response from communist China. In November and December 1950, thousands of Chinese troops joined North Korea's side and were able to push American forces back into South Korea. MacArthur asked President Truman for permission to bomb China and Truman refused. Addressing the U.S. Congress, MacArthur argued for military efforts to be focused in Asia rather than Europe and open a second front in mainland China. This public challenge deeply angered Truman.
June 1950 marked the beginning of the war in Korea. MacArthur had already helped South Korea stay independent from communist North Korea and argued that forces should be sent into North Korea to completely defeat it, while President Truman worried that this move would trigger a response from communist China. In November and December 1950, thousands of Chinese troops joined North Korea's side and were able to push American forces back into South Korea. MacArthur asked President Truman for permission to bomb China and Truman refused. Addressing the U.S. Congress, MacArthur argued for military efforts to be focused in Asia rather than Europe and open a second front in mainland China. This public challenge deeply angered Truman.
"General MacArthur wanted a military victory - he did not believe in fighting with one hand tied behind his back. During the course of the war, MacArthur constantly pressured his government for more freedom to fight the war without restrictions, was constantly irritated by orders from Washington, and occasionally spoke out publicly against the government which limited his action. President Truman repeatedly told the General to obey orders and refrain from publically criticizing his administration. Finally, on April 11, 1951, the President carried out a decision he had made several days earlier
and relieved the General of his command."- historian Thomas Ladenburg |
"The Big Picture: The Douglas MacArthur Story", 2008
MacArthur is Fired
"I talked with General Marshall about it. (Marshall was Secretary of State at this time). But the general advised me against having him come to Washington. He said, 'That man has become a king of living legend with certain groups and certain members of Congress, and if you brought him back here. I think it might do more harm than good. He'd stir up the China Lobby and all those people.....' He was right, of course." - President Truman.
Douglas MacArthur was fired by President Truman in April 1951 and replaced with General Matthew Ridgway. Truman issued the following statement to the nation, "Full and vigorous debate on matters of national policy is a vital element in the Constitutional system of our free democracy. It is fundamental, however, that military commanders must be governed by the policies and directives issued to them in the manner provided by our laws and Constitution. In time of crisis this consideration is particularly compelling. General MacArthur's place in history as one of our greatest commanders is fully established. The nation owes him a debt of gratitude for the distinguished and exceptional service which he has rendered his country in posts of great responsibility. For that reason, I repeat my regret at the necessity for the action I feel compelled to take in this case." - New York Times
"I believe that we must try to limit the war to Korea for these vital reasons: To make sure that the precious lives of our fighting men are not wasted; to see that the security of our country and the free world is not needlessly jeopardized; and to prevent a third world war. General MacArthur had been fired so that there would be no doubt or confusion as to the real purpose and aim of our policy." - President Truman
"I talked with General Marshall about it. (Marshall was Secretary of State at this time). But the general advised me against having him come to Washington. He said, 'That man has become a king of living legend with certain groups and certain members of Congress, and if you brought him back here. I think it might do more harm than good. He'd stir up the China Lobby and all those people.....' He was right, of course." - President Truman.
Douglas MacArthur was fired by President Truman in April 1951 and replaced with General Matthew Ridgway. Truman issued the following statement to the nation, "Full and vigorous debate on matters of national policy is a vital element in the Constitutional system of our free democracy. It is fundamental, however, that military commanders must be governed by the policies and directives issued to them in the manner provided by our laws and Constitution. In time of crisis this consideration is particularly compelling. General MacArthur's place in history as one of our greatest commanders is fully established. The nation owes him a debt of gratitude for the distinguished and exceptional service which he has rendered his country in posts of great responsibility. For that reason, I repeat my regret at the necessity for the action I feel compelled to take in this case." - New York Times
"I believe that we must try to limit the war to Korea for these vital reasons: To make sure that the precious lives of our fighting men are not wasted; to see that the security of our country and the free world is not needlessly jeopardized; and to prevent a third world war. General MacArthur had been fired so that there would be no doubt or confusion as to the real purpose and aim of our policy." - President Truman
MacArthur Returns Home
"MacArthur did not go quietly. Orchestrated by his deputies and loyal Japanese functionaries, the General's April 16 dawn departure from Tokyo aboard his command plane — a Lockheed Constellation christened Bataan — was emotional. Authorities declared a school holiday and furnished children with small American and Japanese flags. Many Japanese displayed heartfelt banners in the language the General had never attempted to learn: WE LOVE YOU. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE GENERAL. WITH SINCERE REGRET. SAYONARA. On the airport tarmac the General shook hands with his successor, Ridgway, many senior officers and Japanese dignitaries. Cannon boomed a 19-gun salute. Eighteen jet fighters and four B-29s flew low overhead. As the hatch of Bataan closed, an Army band played 'Auld Lang Syne.'" - historian Stanley Weintraub
MacArthur returned to the United States as a hero, despite being fired publicly by the President. On April 19, 1951, MacArthur addressed a joint session of Congress to explain his rationale for wanting to advance the war in Korea.
"While no man in his right mind would advocate sending our ground forces into continental China, and such was never given a thought, the new situation did urgently demand a drastic revision of strategic planning if our political aim was to defeat this new enemy as we had defeated the old...Efforts have been made to distort my position. It has been said, in effect, that I was a warmonger. Nothing could be further from the truth...But once war is forced upon us, there is no other alternative than to apply every available means to bring it to a swift end...I am closing my 52 years of military service. When I joined the Army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all of my boyish hopes and dreams. The world has turned over many times since I took oath at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have all since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barracks ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that 'old soldiers never die; they just fade away.'" - Douglas MacArthur
"MacArthur did not go quietly. Orchestrated by his deputies and loyal Japanese functionaries, the General's April 16 dawn departure from Tokyo aboard his command plane — a Lockheed Constellation christened Bataan — was emotional. Authorities declared a school holiday and furnished children with small American and Japanese flags. Many Japanese displayed heartfelt banners in the language the General had never attempted to learn: WE LOVE YOU. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE GENERAL. WITH SINCERE REGRET. SAYONARA. On the airport tarmac the General shook hands with his successor, Ridgway, many senior officers and Japanese dignitaries. Cannon boomed a 19-gun salute. Eighteen jet fighters and four B-29s flew low overhead. As the hatch of Bataan closed, an Army band played 'Auld Lang Syne.'" - historian Stanley Weintraub
MacArthur returned to the United States as a hero, despite being fired publicly by the President. On April 19, 1951, MacArthur addressed a joint session of Congress to explain his rationale for wanting to advance the war in Korea.
"While no man in his right mind would advocate sending our ground forces into continental China, and such was never given a thought, the new situation did urgently demand a drastic revision of strategic planning if our political aim was to defeat this new enemy as we had defeated the old...Efforts have been made to distort my position. It has been said, in effect, that I was a warmonger. Nothing could be further from the truth...But once war is forced upon us, there is no other alternative than to apply every available means to bring it to a swift end...I am closing my 52 years of military service. When I joined the Army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all of my boyish hopes and dreams. The world has turned over many times since I took oath at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have all since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barracks ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that 'old soldiers never die; they just fade away.'" - Douglas MacArthur