By Dr. Curtis Varnell
Little Rock is dotted with streets, buildings, and a museum named for a man who claimed Virginia rather than Arkansas as his birthplace. Douglas McArthur, one of five men to ever reach the rank of five-star General was actually born in Arkansas in an area just south of the old State Capitol. His father, Arthur MacArthur, a lifetime soldier and a Civil War veteran, was assigned to the Little Rock Arsenal after the war. The Arsenal, built in 1840 to protect the state capitol from hostile Indians, is one of the oldest surviving structures in the state. It’s construction nearly set off rioting in the city because it was built on the site of the original gentlemen’s race track and jockey club. During the Civil War, it served as headquarters for the South and then for the Union.
Douglas McArthur was born in the Tower Building of the barracks on January 26, 1880, the third son of Arthur and Mary. A few days later, Douglas was baptized at Christ Episcopal Church, a church which is still in existence. Six or so months later, the Arthur was transferred to New Mexico and grew up as a military child in several military bases. Later, when asked his birthplace, he normally stated Norfolk, Virginia, a site associated with his mother’s family and a state more known for producing military heroes.
A military man born and bred, he is one of America’s most famous warriors. He graduated first in his class at West Point and was deemed a hero during WW1. He was chief of staff of the Army under two presidents and was field marshal of the Philippine Army during the 1930’s. He returned to active duty during WW11 and was assigned as the general of all U.S. forces in the Pacific. Forced to flee the Philippines, he famously quoted, “I shall return.” He fulfilled that promise a couple years later by wading ashore at Leyte. For his actions during the war, he was awarded America’s highest military medal, the Congressional Medal of Honor.
After the war, he directed the reconstruction of Japan and assisted in setting up the democratic government that exist there today. Assigned to Korea during the war there, he was determined to end the spread of communism. With thousands of Chinese streaming in North Korea, he objected to what he viewed as appeasement by the U.N. and Harry Truman. For his actions and statements, he was removed from command.
Retiring from the military and a prominent Republican, he was considered as a candidate for president before retiring in favor of his friend, Dwight Eisenhower. During that time, he visited Little Rock on a whirlwind tour of the south. He landed at Adams Field, went to Christ Episcopal for a worship service, and then gave a short speech to a crowd of about 15,000 people who came out to see the American and Arkansas hero. He was presented a silver platter with an engraving of the building in which he was born, a tomahawk from Pea Ridge, and a scout scroll. Within hours, he was back on the plane headed elsewhere. Later he gave the keynote address at the 1952 Republican national convention and faded from view. MacArthur died on April 5, 1964, at the U.S. Army Hospital Walter Reed in Washington DC from complications following surgery. He is interred along with his second wife in a museum dedicated to his memory in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. One of his oft quoted statements from his retirement, “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.”
In Arkansas, McArthur’s contributions have not dulled or faded into obscurity. The old Arsenal, a National Historic site, now sits in a park dedicated to his memory. McArthur Park contains the McArthur museum which preserves the contributions of all Arkansas men and women who
served in the armed forces. Exhibits feature artifacts, photographs, weapons, documents, uniforms and other military items that vividly portray Arkansas’s military history at home and abroad.
A great place to visit and learn Arkansas history, the park is located at 503 E. 9th Street Little Rock. It is open several days a week and admission is free.
