McArthur was born January 26, 1880 to parents who both had military backgrounds. His mother who most called Pinkey, was from well to do Virginia parents. His father was already a rather famous U.S. Army officer. Compared to most famous people, Douglas McArthur lived what I would call four whole lives. He was a commander in three major wars. Therefore, in relating to you his amazing life, it will be necessary to convey it to you in sections or posts. Following is the Second one. Ron
Lt. MacArthur spent his graduation furlough with his parents at Fort Mason, California, where his father, now a major general, was commanding the Department of the Pacific.
Afterward, he joined the 3rd Engineer Battalion, which departed for the Philippines in October 1903. He did survey work around many of the islands. In November 1903, while working on Guimaras, he was ambushed by a pair of Filipino brigands or guerrillas; he shot and killed both.
He was promoted to first lieutenant in Manila in April 1904. In October 1904, his tour of duty was cut short when he contracted malaria during a survey on Bataan.
He returned to San Francisco, where he was assigned to the California Commission that was to regulate streams that had been devastated by being clogged from all the gold mining runoff, and in July 1905, he became chief engineer of the Division of the Pacific.
Lt. MacArthur served on his father’s staff for several years. He did intelligence work all over the world. He was transferred to Washington where he served as “an aide to assist at White House functions” at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt.
He was then transferred to Leavenworth. He was stuck there for several years, but eventually was stationed in Washington under the Chief of Staff of the Army, Major General Leonard Wood who had served with his father years ago.
By now Douglas had advanced to the rank of Captain.
In this year of 1913 the United States and Mexico had drifted close to war with each other. Mexican General Huerta had insulted the American Flag and was showing great belligerence. President Wilson in and unusual move had ordered the U.S. Navy to seize the Mexican town of Vera Cruz. A contingent of U.S. soldiers and marines was holding the town, but were surrounded by 11,000 of Mexican General Huerta’s troops.
The U.S. Secretary of War had alerted General Wood to be prepared to send an expeditionary force there if hostilities were to break out between the two countries.
Wood desperately needed intelligence to be ready for such. Vera Cruz was being held by Brigadier General Frederick Funston with just a small circle around the town, and he had orders to not go beyond the lines of that circle.
General Wood decided that the ideal way to solve his lack of intelligence for his needs was so send Captain Douglas MacArthur down there in the role of a one-man spy operation to find out all that he could without telling anyone, even General Funston who was holding the town with his small contingent of U.S. forces.
Captain MacArthur sailed down there on the U.S.S. Nebraska and arrived in Vera Cruz on Friday, May 1. What he found there called for both courage and skill. As I mentioned, the small U.S. brigade was surrounded by 11,000 of Huerta’s forces. And if it ever became known the U.S. was contemplating an attack against Mexico, Huerta would proceed to attack and destroy that American brigade.
The night before a U.S. soldier had gotten lost and wandered across the line into Huerta’s side. He was promptly executed, and this showed what danger Captain MacArthur faced if he went across the line to gather the intelligence that was so needed.
After sizing-up the situation, Douglas determined that the primary need that the U.S. needed was transportation from the port inland. Vera Cruz lacked horses or mules or trucks. However, there was a railroad, and it was obviously the best transportation that was available. Douglas found that there was a large number of rail cars, but not a single engine to pull them in the town. He knew that he must find some engines.
Operating as a one-man force he first found an engineer and two firemen who had worked on that train previously. He promised each man $150 in gold if they could find him engines. He searched the engineer and confiscated his 38 caliber pistol. He then showed the engineer that he had no money or anything of value on himself other than a small derringer pistol.
These three dudes swore that they could show Douglas where to find those engines.
Douglas sent the two firemen on ahead, and he and the engineer followed. They confiscated a railroad handcar and started off inland. They got about 15 miles and then were stopped by a bridge that was down over a river. They camouflaged the rail car and found a canoe to cross the river. They mounted some ponies that they found tied to a small shack and took off down the tracks.
Eventually they came upon the two firemen who had another handcar ready for them. Deeper and deeper they penetrated Huerta country. Since MacArthur was in uniform and obviously Anglo-Saxon he left the car as thy approached each settlement, lashing one man to him as a guide while he circled the village and met the car with the other two men on the other side.
At 1:00 A.M. they reached Alvarado, thirty-five miles beyond Funston’s outpost. There they found five locomotives. Two of them were useless switch engines, but three were just what he needed—fine big road pullers in excellent condition. He made a careful inspection of them and then started back.
According to Douglas, the return trip was a “bloody affair”. At Salinas five armed men opened fire on them. MacArthur dropped two of them with his little derringer. At Piedra they ran into 15 mounted gunmen. The horsemen put three bullet holes through MacArthur’s clothing and wounded one of the Mexicans. Douglas shot four of the assailants. Near Laguna, three more mounted men fired at them. Again, lead tore through MacArthur’s uniform, and again he brought an attacker down.
{All those bullet holes through his clothing without a single one ever touching his skin was the start of the “idea” that Douglas MacArthur could face any enemy fire without ever being hit. Many believed it, and considering the multitude of his later actions, it seems that he must have believed it also.}
Again, they crossed the Jamapa river and even though the canoe sank they carried the wounded Mexican up and at daybreak found the camouflaged handcar. Later in the morning they reentered American lines.
War was never declared, but they now had the intelligence needed if it were. The Vera Cruz incident disclosed much about MacArthur: his ingenuity, his eye for terrain, and his personal bravery.
General Wood recommended him for the Medal of Honor, noting the expedition, which had been undertaken “at the risk of his life” and “on his own initiative,” showed “enterprise and courage worthy of high commendation.” It was turned down by the rather prejudiced review committee, but was noticed across the U.S. army.
Be Prepared for Third Installment
True Texan Tales 