General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964), was one of the most powerful military officers in modern American history, and was the Allied Commander of the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II and the Commander in Chief of the Far East (CINCFE) in the postwar period. He accepted the Japanese surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in September 1945, then acted as supreme commander over the occupation of Japan. He commanded all American forces (United States) in the Korean War until being relieved of his command by President Harry Truman in April 1951.
By the time the U.S. decided to help south Korea, General MacArthur organized the movement of troops and war supplies, South Korean forces had been pushed into the far southern tip of the Korean peninsula. On September 15, 1950, in one of the most daring and successful military maneuvers of modern times, MacArthur landed troops at Inchon, far behind North Korean lines. The result was a route of enemy forces, and the North Koreans were pushed back nearly to China. Fearing an invasion of its territory, China joined the war and launched a full-blown counterattack. Eventually a stalemate was reached near the thirty-eighth parallel, where Korea had been initially divided. Not wanting to expand the conflict, President Harry Truman would not accept MacArthur's urgings to carry the war across the Korean border into Chinese territory. On his own, MacArthur decided to go even further in antagonizing the Chinese although Truman didn't approve. In March, he decided to send an ultimatum to the PRC. MacArthur demanded that the Chinese withdraw their troops. If they didn't, he promised to force China to 'its knees'. Truman was angered at MacArthur's attempt to define and influence US policy; he decided MacArthur had to be fired.Truman did not act immediately, however, and as he waited, in early April of 1951, Congress approved NATO, a sign that Truman's Europe-first policy had been accepted. By this time the incident of the ultimatum had become worn-out, and Truman needed another reason to fire MacArthur.
Within a few months, MacArthur leaked news to a congressman that he planned to use Chinese Nationalist forces from Formosa in the Korean War. Such an act, of course, would only serve to further inflame the PRC, and it again went against Truman's diplomatic policies. After the congressman, Joseph W. Martin, read MacArthur's message before Congress, Truman began talking about dismissing MacArthur with the JCS (Joint Chiefs of Staff). Meanwhile, in Operation Rugged, General Matthew Ridgway was busy entrenching the Eighth Army in favorable terrain about 20 miles north of the 38th Parallel. Ridgway was preparing to hold off another PRC offensive, which many American military leaders suspected was imminent. The JCS was increasingly afraid that MacArthur's tactless reaction to such an offensive might allow the situation to grow into a major conflict, perhaps a World War III. Making sure of support within the JCS, which unanimously supported MacArthur's dismissal, Truman fired MacArthur on April 11, 1951.
By the time the U.S. decided to help south Korea, General MacArthur organized the movement of troops and war supplies, South Korean forces had been pushed into the far southern tip of the Korean peninsula. On September 15, 1950, in one of the most daring and successful military maneuvers of modern times, MacArthur landed troops at Inchon, far behind North Korean lines. The result was a route of enemy forces, and the North Koreans were pushed back nearly to China. Fearing an invasion of its territory, China joined the war and launched a full-blown counterattack. Eventually a stalemate was reached near the thirty-eighth parallel, where Korea had been initially divided. Not wanting to expand the conflict, President Harry Truman would not accept MacArthur's urgings to carry the war across the Korean border into Chinese territory. On his own, MacArthur decided to go even further in antagonizing the Chinese although Truman didn't approve. In March, he decided to send an ultimatum to the PRC. MacArthur demanded that the Chinese withdraw their troops. If they didn't, he promised to force China to 'its knees'. Truman was angered at MacArthur's attempt to define and influence US policy; he decided MacArthur had to be fired.Truman did not act immediately, however, and as he waited, in early April of 1951, Congress approved NATO, a sign that Truman's Europe-first policy had been accepted. By this time the incident of the ultimatum had become worn-out, and Truman needed another reason to fire MacArthur.
Within a few months, MacArthur leaked news to a congressman that he planned to use Chinese Nationalist forces from Formosa in the Korean War. Such an act, of course, would only serve to further inflame the PRC, and it again went against Truman's diplomatic policies. After the congressman, Joseph W. Martin, read MacArthur's message before Congress, Truman began talking about dismissing MacArthur with the JCS (Joint Chiefs of Staff). Meanwhile, in Operation Rugged, General Matthew Ridgway was busy entrenching the Eighth Army in favorable terrain about 20 miles north of the 38th Parallel. Ridgway was preparing to hold off another PRC offensive, which many American military leaders suspected was imminent. The JCS was increasingly afraid that MacArthur's tactless reaction to such an offensive might allow the situation to grow into a major conflict, perhaps a World War III. Making sure of support within the JCS, which unanimously supported MacArthur's dismissal, Truman fired MacArthur on April 11, 1951.
My opinion on MacArthur's role in the Korean War was that he was one of the greatest leaders to have been. His command of the United States troops were very valuable in the winning of the Korean War. With him continuing his fight (before his firing) helped them get one step closer to victory, even with the risk of starting a whole new era much like the incredible World Wars that occurred. His determined, arrogant, and careless attitude was what triggered him to want to defeat the enemies so eagerly. Even though he put such countries at risk of an even larger battle, his efforts are what we remember him by.