MacArthur's Return to the Philippines
A Dramatic High Point of World War II
The Philippine Islands, a Spanish colony since the 16th century, were acquired by the United States as spoils of the Spanish-American War of 1898. The Philippines were soon put on a path to independence within 50 years as a commonwealth. Upon Japan's invasion of China in 1937 and its announcement of plans to dominate East Asia and the Pacific, the U.S. took steps to defend the Philippines from conquest. Former U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur was called out of retirement and sent to the Islands to create a combined U.S. and Filipino armed force that would be adequate to the task. He plunged into the task with enthusiasm but was far from completing it when war came.
The Japanese Attack
On December 8, 1941, the same day as the attack on Pearl Harbor across the International Date Line, the Japanese also attacked the Philippines by air. Despite a nine-hour warning and for reasons never clarified, most of a considerable American air force was destroyed on the ground. The loss of air cover made it necessary to withdraw the U.S. naval forces, essentially dooming the defense of the Islands against the rapidly following Japanese ground invasion.
The American and Filipino forces fought gallantly, retreating to the Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor Island in accordance with a plan. However, the plan also called for holding out until relief forces could be dispatched. Since neither relief nor evacuation was now possible, President Franklin D. Roosevelt felt it was of paramount importance to extract the commanding general so that his experience and talents could be employed on the difficult road back.
In February 1942 MacArthur was ordered to relocate to Australia to take command of the U.S. forces that would be preparing to drive the Japanese from the Pacific islands. Reluctant to abandon his troops that faced certain destruction or capture, the general at first refused, but on reiteration of the orders and for the opportunity to retaliate against the conquering Japanese forces, he acceded and left the Philippines in a swift small boat on March 11 with his wife and son and immediate staff. Arriving in Australia and meeting with reporters, he vowed, "I shall return."
The Return
MacArthur's first responsibility was to turn back a Japanese attempt to use New Guniea as a springboard for an invasion of Australia itself. Successful there, he began an "island hopping" campaign in which he attacked and conquered vulnerable islands, leaving large enemy forces cut off on more fortified islands while moving the "front" ever closer to Japan. (There is still controversy over how effective this approach was and the relative contributions of the Army and the Marines.)
After more than two years of tough fighting over a wide expanse of the Southwest Pacific, MacArthur was authorized to invade the Philippines. Choosing Leyte rather than the principal island of Luzon as the initial landing site, MacArthur waded ashore in October, 1944 and proclaimed to waiting newsmen, "I have returned". The words and pictures were flashed around the world and clearly underlined for an anxious American public how far its armed forces had traveled on the road back from the early disasters.
Less than a year later, the general was standing aboard the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay accepting the Japanese surrender that ended World War II.
References:
history.com.this-day-in-history March 11, 1942
history.navy.mil
What do you think about this article?
More in History
Latest Articles