
Home Introduction Building History Tour From the Collection MacArthur the Man Shadow of War Brisbane at War MacArthur in Bris MacArthur Foundation Education Library Links Contact or Visit Us	MacArthur the Man Douglas MacArthur was born on the US Army base, Fort Dodge, Little Rock, Arkansas, on 26 January 1880. His father Captain Arthur MacArthur (later Lieutenant Colonel), had been a hero of the Union Army in the Civil War. MacArthur grew up on military bases in New Mexico where he learnt to ride and shoot before he could write or read. MacArthur eventually followed his father into the US Army and graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1903. Young Soldier Lieutenant MacArthur served in the Philippines and Mexico. During the First World War, MacArthur put together a new Division, the 42nd, or Rainbow Division. By 1918 he had risen to command the 42nd. By the end of the war he had become the US Army’s youngest Divisional Commander and a military hero decorated for bravery in many battles. Between the Wars MacArthur returned from the War and was appointed Superintendent of West Point where he modernised the curriculum. In 1930 he rose to become Army Chief of Staff. He played a controversial role in the Depression era, with his troops breaking up demonstrations of unemployed ex-soldiers. In 1935 he was appointed Military Advisor to the new Philippines Republic. In 1936 he was appointed Field Marshal in the Philippines Army. On the ship in transit to the Philippines, the divorced MacArthur had met Jean Marie Faircloth. They married and had a son, Arthur. After Pearl Harbour Japanese warplanes bombed the Philippines immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbour. They wiped out MacArthur’s air defences and on 10 December 1941 Japanese troops landed in the Philippines. MacArthur’s strategy of resisting on the beaches failed. US and Filipino defenders retreated to Bataan and MacArthur and his family retreated to the island fortress of Corregidor. The Great Escape On 22 February 1942, with the war going badly for the Allied Forces, President Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to escape to Australia. On the night of 11 March 1942, he, his wife and young son, their Chinese nursemaid and a few close aides commenced one of the great escapes of the Second World War. They crept through the islands of the Philippines by PT boat, reaching Del Monte air field on 13 March 1942. B 17’s were sent from Batchelor Airfield in the Northern Territory, Australia to Del Monte. MacArthur’s little band were able to reach Batchelor on 17 March 1942. The party then flew to Alice Springs where they joined the Alice Springs–Adelaide train (The Ghan). When The Ghan reached the tiny railway town of Terowie in South Australia, MacArthur spoke to troops and townspeople, ending his speech by proclaiming: "I came out of Bataan and I shall return." The railway no longer goes through Terowie, but a plaque recognizing this event is located on the platform amidst the remnants of the original railway station. : The inscription reads: " I CAME OUT OF BATAAN AND I SHALL RETURN" THIS HISTORIC MESSAGE THAT ECHOED AROUND THE WORLD WAS GIVEN ON THIS SPOT BY U.S. GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR AT HIS FIRST PRESS INTERVIEW IN AUSTRALIA . 20.2.1942.

Home
Introduction
Building
History
Tour
From the Collection
MacArthur the Man
Shadow of War
Brisbane at War
MacArthur in Bris
MacArthur Foundation
Education
Library
Links
Contact or Visit Us

MacArthur the Man

Douglas MacArthur was born on the US Army base, Fort Dodge, Little Rock, Arkansas, on 26 January 1880. His father Captain Arthur MacArthur (later Lieutenant Colonel), had been a hero of the Union Army in the Civil War. MacArthur grew up on military bases in New Mexico where he learnt to ride and shoot before he could write or read. MacArthur eventually followed his father into the US Army and graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1903.

Young Soldier

Lieutenant MacArthur served in the Philippines and Mexico. During the First World War, MacArthur put together a new Division, the 42nd, or Rainbow Division. By 1918 he had risen to command the 42nd. By the end of the war he had become the US Army’s youngest Divisional Commander and a military hero decorated for bravery in many battles.

Between the Wars

MacArthur returned from the War and was appointed Superintendent of West Point where he modernised the curriculum. In 1930 he rose to become Army Chief of Staff. He played a controversial role in the Depression era, with his troops breaking up demonstrations of unemployed ex-soldiers. In 1935 he was appointed Military Advisor to the new Philippines Republic. In 1936 he was appointed Field Marshal in the Philippines Army. On the ship in transit to the Philippines, the divorced MacArthur had met Jean Marie Faircloth. They married and had a son, Arthur.

After Pearl Harbour

Japanese warplanes bombed the Philippines immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbour. They wiped out MacArthur’s air defences and on 10 December 1941 Japanese troops landed in the Philippines. MacArthur’s strategy of resisting on the beaches failed. US and Filipino defenders retreated to Bataan and MacArthur and his family retreated to the island fortress of Corregidor.

The Great Escape

The Ghan train carrying General MacArthur from Alice Springs to Adelaide, March 1942. Source: MacArthur Memorial Archives USA 00020100b On 22 February 1942, with the war going badly for the Allied Forces, President Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to escape to Australia. On the night of 11 March 1942, he, his wife and young son, their Chinese nursemaid and a few close aides commenced one of the great escapes of the Second World War.

General and Mrs MacArthur dining on the Ghan train, March 1942. Source: MacArthur Memorial Archives USA 00020100c They crept through the islands of the Philippines by PT boat, reaching Del Monte air field on 13 March 1942. B 17’s were sent from Batchelor Airfield in the Northern Territory, Australia to Del Monte. MacArthur’s little band were able to reach Batchelor on 17 March 1942.

The party then flew to Alice Springs where they joined the Alice Springs–Adelaide train (The Ghan). When The Ghan reached the tiny railway town of Terowie in South Australia, MacArthur spoke to troops and townspeople, ending his speech by proclaiming:

"I came out of Bataan and I shall return."

The railway no longer goes through Terowie, but a plaque recognizing this event is located on the platform amidst the remnants of the original railway station.

: Terawie Plaque

The inscription reads:

" I CAME OUT OF BATAAN
AND I SHALL RETURN"

THIS HISTORIC MESSAGE THAT ECHOED
AROUND THE WORLD WAS GIVEN ON THIS
SPOT BY U.S. GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR
AT HIS FIRST PRESS INTERVIEW IN AUSTRALIA
.
20.2.1942.