General Douglas MacArthurGeneral Douglas MacArthur is one of the most famous and accomplished generals in the United States. He is best known for being the commander of all Allied forces in the Pacific theater during World War II. His life was a spectacular rise and a tragic fall. He was one of the greatest United States leaders of all time. He lived his entire life by West Point's code of duty, honor and country. Douglas Macarthur was born January 26, 1880 in Little Rock, Arkansas (Kelley 35). His parents were Arthur and Mary MacArthur. As a young man, Douglas MacArthur was often moved to different parts of the United States where his father was stationed. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point where he received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. He was the top finisher in his class of 93 at West Point (Kelley 39). He was promoted very quickly in the following years and had a great deal of combat experience in several conflicts, including the First World War. Douglas served in the Philippines as a major general, commanded the Department of the Philippines, and served in the United States as chief of staff of the Army (Wikipedia). In 1942 he was named supreme commander of the Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific, and in 1945 he liberated the Philippines en route to the invasion of Japan. MacArthur accepted the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, then led the occupation forces in rebuilding Japan (Wikipedia). After North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, MacArthur was put in charge of the United Nations forces and successfully repelled the invaders (Wikipedia). General MacArthur wanted to push back the enemy and go to China to do so, but was relieved of his command by President Truman before he could do so. General Douglas MacArthur's most famous contribution to history was his service to the United States during World War II. At the time he was the supreme commander of the Allied forces in the Pacific. He led the United States to a series of victories in the Pacific that ended in the defeat of Japan. He accepted the surrender of Japanese forces on September 2, 1945 (Wikipedia). After the war ended, General MacArthur was named supreme commander of all Allied forces and helped in the reconstruction of Japan. MacArthur's great leadership and tactics ultimately led the United States to win the war against Japan during the greatest conflict of the 20th century.