Background MacArthur Douglas MacArthur was born on January 26, 1880 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1903. He was commissioned a second lieutenant of engineers and served in the Philippines from 1903 '' 1904, he was promoted to first lieutenant April 1904. He was an engineer officer and aide to the commander of the Pacific Division. He was promoted to captain on February 1911, then promoted to major December 1915, and colonel August 1917. He married Lousie Cromwell Brooks in 1922 and then divorced in 1929. He then married Jean Marie Faircloth in 1937. In December 1937 he retired from active service but continued as adviser to the Philippine government. July 1941 he was recalled to active duty as lieutenant generaland named commander. He received the Medal of Honor for Philippine defense preparations and operations. In April 1951 he was relieved of his command by President Truman. He died in Washington D.C. on April 5, 1951. Truman Henry Truman was born on may 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri. He attended public schools in Independence and in 1901 he graduated from high school. After high school he worked briefly as a timekeeper for a railroad construction contractor. In 1906 he returned to Grandview to help his father run the family farm. He continued to work as a farmer for more than ten years. From 1905 to 1911 he served in the Missouri National Guard. As the US entered WWI he helped organize the 2nd regiment of Missouri Field Artillery. He was promoted to captain and given the command of the regiments Battery D. He eventually rose to the rank of colonel and sought to return to active duty at the outbreak of WWII. General George Marshall declined his offer to serve. On June 28, 1919 he married Bess Wallace. They had one child, Mary Margaret, born on February 17, 1924. In 1922 he was elected to be one of three judges of the Jackson County Court. In 1934 he was elected to the US Senate and was reelected in 1940. In July 1944 he was nominated to run for Vice President with Franklin D. Roosevelt. He took the Vice President oath on January 20, 1945. Eighty-two days later, after President Roosevelt’s unexpected death, he was sworn in as the nations 33rd President. In 1948 he won the reelection which was highly expected and often predicted. He died on December 26, 1972 and is buried by his wife.