Douglas MacArthur: Strategic Influences and Military Theories - Exploration of Life and Military Career, Roles as West Point Superintendent and Army Chief of Staff, Three Levels of Warfare Theory

This report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. How did Douglas MacArthur's experiences throughout his career influence his strategic methodology and shape his potential theories on the conduct of war? This thesis explores MacArthur's life and military career to determine the foundation behind the man and identify critical areas. His wartime experience is unlike any other in history, but also his military education, and his tours as the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, are part of the story surrounding MacArthur. This thesis is an attempt to remain objective and unbiased about one of the more polarizing characters of the United States. His theories of the three levels of warfare: strategic, operational, and tactical, and his own theories on personal leadership, have been pulled from his career experiences and compared to the standards in military theory: Baron Antoine-Henri De Jomini and Carl von Clausewitz. MacArthur's theories on war are as relevant today as they were against the enemies of yesterday. Shortly after his return to the United States, MacArthur gave an address to a joint session of Congress. He said, "Once war is forced upon us, there is no other alternative than to apply every available means to bring it to a swift end. War's very object is victory—not prolonged indecision. In war, indeed, there can be no substitute for victory." This thesis proves this theory needs to be considered today during America's longest conflict.

Douglas MacArthur was a complex man. His theories and methods often contradict rational military doctrine. He was a remarkable soldier who led his men to victory in WWI, but he was also difficult to control and openly spoke his mind when denied something he wanted. He denied orders or augmented them to suit his style, but the choices he made worked in his favor. He was prideful and purposefully set himself apart from his peers in order to outshine them. He sought recognition and fame, often regardless of the consequences. However, these tactics can be attributed to his success as a Soldier's General. He was adored by his classmates at West Point, beloved by his men in the trenches of WWI, and revered as a combat hero by his peers and superiors. His success added to his own image of personal exultance, and helped shape the MacArthur the public remembers from WWII. Despite his exceptional traits, or possibly because of them, Franklin Roosevelt once called MacArthur "The most dangerous man in America."

Graduating from West Point in 1903, MacArthur's career spanned half a century, thrusting him into the heart of the most challenging and transformative times of the 20th century. Throughout his fifty-two-year-long army career, he developed theories on how war should be conducted. These theories can be categorized into four different elements, three of which reflect what modern strategic leaders identify as the levels of war in descending order: strategic, operational, and tactical. MacArthur also had personal theories on command and leadership. How did his experiences throughout his career shape these theories on the conduct of war? What shaped Douglas MacArthur's strategic views?

Douglas MacArthur is also a controversial figure among historians. Numerous historical and biographical works exist on MacArthur, yet none of these studies provides a critical examination of his theories and influences.