“The long gray line has never failed us. Were you to do so, a million ghosts in olive drab, in brown khaki, in blue and gray (my emphasis), would rise from their white crosses, thundering those magic words: Duty, Honor, Country.” Douglas MacArthur.
General Douglas MacArthur gave his final speech (amazingly extemporaneous) to the Corps of Cadets at West point in 1962, only two years before his death (1964).
As a minor student of history I have read as much on MacArthur’s life and times as most if, perhaps not more than most. There, in my opinion, was no greater advocate for the Republican cause than he was, including his admiration of Lincoln.
Only a cursory examination of sources will reveal his devotion to his family (Wisconsin roots although as a technicality MacArthur was born down south, Little Rock, Ark.) and in particular, his father, General Arthur MacArthur, a Yankee who was awarded one of the earliest Congressional Medals of Honor. In fact, Douglas was awarded the same medal many decades later for his defense of the Philippines in 1942, making the two of them the first father/son awardees.
MacArthur’s mother was of a Virginia family and had two brothers who fought for the Confederacy.
MacArthur, himself, married a lady (Jean Faircloth) from Virginia whose grandfather was a captain in the Army of Northern Virginia.
As much as Douglas MacArthur was devoted, historically, to those Yankees in Blue, he had the greatest respect and love for those men in gray who gave their lives for their homes, families and a self-governing government while opposing nationalism.
But in today’s political climate if some noxious voice or voices demanded that the opening paragraph, above, be edited to remove “gray,” I believe Douglas MacArthur might return again– from under his white cross, and the Mark Levins, David Hansons, Fox News ad nauseum of the “media” world would be verbally closeted by a brilliant and courageous soldier who had great respect for the Confederate monuments that have been removed, and the courage and honor that went with them.
The views expressed at AbbevilleInstitute.org are not necessarily the views of the Abbeville Institute.
I don’t know…. Ike’s unapologetic and admiring testimonial to General Lee hasn’t had good effect.
Maybe so. Maybe a pincer from the Pacific and European Theaters.
I guess the better point to have pursued would have been that “The Long Gray Line” that MacArthur knew no longer exists. It has been feminized, sodomized, weakened via “affirmative action”, and graduates Lieutenants who probably would have trouble putting on their own boots let alone understanding the character of warriors like Lee, Jackson or MacArthur.
Men don’t need to be soldiers. But soldiers need to be men.
To the ladies, I apologize. To the women—never.
Very well said, Mr. Yarbrough. My sentiments, exactly.
I now no longer wonder why Mark Levin keeps a picture of Lincoln on his credenza.
Vivian Turnage
Douglas MacArthur was prepared for West Point at West Texas Military Academy in San Antonio, an Episcopal school (now called TMI Episcopal) founded by Bishop James Steptoe Johnston, a Mississippian cousin of General Joseph E. Johnston and of the novelist Mary Johnston. Mary Johnston came to fame for her novel “To Have and to Hold” but wrote at least two very good Civil War novels. Bishop Johnston’s roots were deep Virginia, though he was mustered into the CSA with the 11th Mississippi Infantry in Lee’s ANV and fought in 12 battles. The Bishop’s school was an instant success. He had quite an effect on the boys. I love to quote him: “The best use of wealth is to coin it into character.” Just interesting tid-bits.
Thank for this, Mr. Yarborough. I’d never seen that phrase before now. And I’m definitely not offended that I can’t be a soldier.
My father graduated from West Point in the middle of the 20th century, after idolizing Lee during his childhood and adolescence. All of his (and my mother’s) ancestors fought for the South, not to mention several of the other wars. Wherever we drove, he could explain very matter of factly what each side was doing during the WBTS, in the case of Atlanta, for example, Sherman and crew of course in 1864. War crimes no longer surprised my father by then.
If he were alive today, he’d think our culture was nuts, demonizing Lee and tearing down statues. Both my parents were loyal to their ancestors and also supported desegregation, civil rights, equal opportunity and respect towards everyone. The cartoons, and the calumny, pretending to be cultural analysis the last ten years or so are quite painful to witness.
Thank you. And God bless you and your family.
Forgive me for misspelling your name.
As one part of my family is from Mississippi, I also should thank you, especially on my (deceased) grandmother’s behalf, for your charming, occasional anecdotes about the state. Usually when I’m required to argue with some random Northerner about his or her head full of stereotypes, I point out that Hodding Carter, the heroic civil rights journalist (back before it was cool to be that way and took real courage) from Greenville, MS, also wrote a book about Lee called “Robert E Lee and the Road to Honor.”
It’s a lovely state and I hope you’ll write more.
Thank you.
The first black military officers in the New World did not attend West Point. They were the officers of the Louisiana Confederate Native Guard and they VOLUNTEERED to lead 1500 of their free, black Confederates in militia duty to defend their city, State and republic.
While this is all true, MacArthur was talking about the cadets at West Point, who wore gray uniforms. I’ve read a lot about MacArthur, too.
If what you say were true, then saying “blue” at all would have been redundant. In your studies of D. MacArthur have you happened to have read of what a fierce enemy he was of and to the Germans in WWI? And his comments about them as “Brave men, dead in the service of their country”?
I believe you missed the point. But thanks for your interest.