Thursday, 26 January 2017

TODAY'S HOLIDAY

Douglas MacArthur Day


MacArthur (Douglas) Day
January 26
Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964), five-star general and supreme commander of the Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific during World War II, was born on this day in Little Rock, Arkansas. Although MacArthur retired from the U.S. Army in 1937, he was recalled to active duty in July 1941. Promoted to general in December 1944, he was appointed commander of all U.S. army forces in the Pacific four months later. After the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, it was MacArthur who supervised the surrender ceremony in Tokyo. As commander of the Allied occupation of Japan from 1945-51, MacArthur directed the demobilization of Japanese military forces and the drafting of a new constitution.

Many people felt that MacArthur was imperious and egotistical, while to others he appeared warm, courageous, and even humble. Everyone seemed to agree that he possessed superior intelligence and a rare ability to command. His birthday is observed in his home state of Arkansas, where he is widely remembered as one of the state's most famous sons.

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