The General's Son - Arthur MacArthur in Australia during WWII

By Peter Dunn OAM

Arthur MacArthur IV, the only child of General Douglas MacArthur and Jean MacArthur (nee Faircloth) was born in the Philippines on 21 February 1938.

He escaped the Japanese with his parents from Corregidor via PT Boat and then B-17 Flying Fortress to Batchelor in the Northern Territory, Australia. They eventually arrived in Melbourne by train on 22 March 1942, where the General established his General Headquarters, Southwest Pacififc Area (GHQ, SWPA). The General's headquarters relocated to Brisbane on 21 July 1942.

Jean MacArthur and Arthur finally left Brisbane on 21 February 1945 to rejoin the General in Manila where his GHQ, SWPA was by that time. 

This book tells the story of Arthur's Journey from Corregidor and his time in Melbourne and Brisbane. You will learn about his escape from the Philippines, Arthur's play mates, "Tojo" the pet goat, his love for music, his schooling, visits to the zoo, his adult life and much more.

In early 2017, Arthur was still living in New York, a recluse incognito.

The book contains many photos of Arthur MacArthur.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Australia War
• Release date: May 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386047155

Peter Dunn OAM

I am a retired electrical engineer who has a passion for the history of people, places, units, and events in Australia during WWII. My research covers military and civilian activities on the Australian Home Front during WWII. I am also the owner of a very large web site called "Australia @ War".

Book preview

Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank Karen Nunan, the Curator of the MacArthur Museum Brisbane, for her ongoing assistance with my research on Arthur MacArthur and all other matters military in Australia during WWII.

I’d also like to thank James Zobel, the Archivist at the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia, for his assistance with my research in the Southwest Pacific Area during WWII.

And of course I must thank two of Arthur MacArthur’s former childhood friends, Del Hicks (nee Ipsen), and Judy Henderson Place for their kind assistance. Del played with Arthur in the grounds of the Supreme Court building across the road from Lennon’s Hotel every weekend and Judy attended Sunday School with Arthur at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Fortitude Valley every Sunday afternoon.

Chapter 1

Early Days in the Philippines

Jean Marie Faircloth travelled to Manila, in the Philippines in 1935 on board the S.S. President Hoover. Whilst on board she met her future husband, General Douglas MacArthur. At that time General MacArthur was the Military Advisor to the Commonwealth of the Philippines.

They married in New York in 1937. Jean wore a fox collar beige wool coat at her wedding, a coat that she would later wear during their frantic escape from the Philippines to Australia.

Jean MacArthur called her husband General but she pronounced Gin’ral and he always called her Ma’am.

Arthur MacArthur was born in Manila at 9:20am on 21 February 1938, the only child of 58-year-old General Douglas MacArthur and 39-year-old Jean Marie MacArthur (nee Faircloth). Arthur weighed 7 ½ pounds and had brown eyes like his mother.

An old friend wrote to the General, I didn’t realize you had it in you.  The General grinned when he read the letter and said, You know, I didn’t realize it myself.  When Arthur was four days old, they hired a Cantonese nurse named Loh Cheu, who came to be called affectionately Ah Cheu; she remained part of the family until her death. 

Arthur was named after his famous grandfather, a Civil War veteran, Lieutenant General Arthur MacArthur.

President Quezon and Bonner Fellers visited early that afternoon to offer their congratulations to the General and his wife Jean. Bonner Fellers was the personal Liaison Officer between General MacArthur and President Quezon.

Mamie Eisenhower, wife of Ike Eisenhower, MacArthur’s Chief of Staff, visited Jean MacArthur later that week and took a lovely embroidered pina cloth baby pillow as a baby present.

Arthur MacArthur was christened on 2 June 1938 by the local Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the library of the penthouse on top of the Manila Hotel. This was Arthur’s paternal grandfather’s birthdate. Invited guests included Doctor Hutter, a couple of the General’s staff, and Brigadier General Creed F. Cox. President and Mrs. Quezon were Arthur’s godparents. 

Jean read all the books about raising babies and talked things over with Ah Cheu, who could not read.  They had decided it was best not to pick up the baby every time he fussed, but the General couldn’t stand to hear his cries and was outraged to find two grown women sitting idly by while the baby cried.  The General stormed into the nursery, and picked Arthur up and walked backwards and forwards with him until Arthur stopped crying. The General absolutely doted on the boy. 

Arthur would often have an afternoon nap while he was in the Philippines.

––––––––

Macintosh HD:private:var:folders:nw:33p3gtwd7rdfglyfbz762fvr0000gn:T:TemporaryItems:arthurmacarthur25.jpg

Douglas MacArthur and newborn Arthur

MacArthur born at Sternberg Hospital in Manila

––––––––

Dr. Mary