the united states army presents, the big picture. an official report produced for the armed forces and the american people. now to show you part of the big picture, here is sergeant stewart queen. >> today the big picture is presenting the story of a man who holds one of the outstanding military records in modern history. a great field commander, a remarkable chief of staff, a military governor without parallel in modern times. his career has had many phases. it has been long and glorious. above all, it has the glow of tremendous personal integrity. douglas mcarthur, general of the army, an historic figure in an historic speech before a joint

meeting of congress. >> i'm closing my 52 years of military service. when i joined the army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all my boyish hopes and dreams. the world has turned over many times since i took the oath on the plane at west point. >> indeed, much has happened to the world since douglas mcarthur took the oath at west point and in the periods of peace since, he's been a central and dramatic

figure. the beginning of an extraordinary career, young douglas with his father, arthur mcarthur, boy colonel of the civil war and veteran of the campaign in the spanish american war. one day when the son was 13 years old, his father is said to have remarked, i think there are the material of a soldier in that boy. a truth that was soon made clear. entering west point he showed extraordinary brilliance in his studies, attaining an average that was the high nest a quarter century and he won the coveted a in athletics as well. he was to lead the american team in the world olympic games. meanwhile, the campaign in the philippines was being brought to a successful completion under his father's able leadership. the son was eager to visit his

battlefields and his first assignment was to survey areas of these islands, one was the baton of peninsula, which many years later he would fight. during the following years, lieutenant macarthur had opportunities to study the far eastern area, gaining insight to the attitudes of peoples hardly known by the west. at the beginning of world war i, the plan was to use only regular army divisions to oppose the powerful german army. meanwhile outside these divisions america had many trained and able men, a proposal for a new division of national guard units from as many states as possible was vigorously advocated by major douglas macarthur.

it was spread over the whole country like a rainbow, the idea of a rainbow division, the 42nd was his, and his duty to see that if well equipped for the ball it that waited for it in france. the rainbow division moved up to the front. it's full readiness through the efforts of colonel macarthur was to prove fortunate indeed. it was during this period too that an impressive battlefield technician began to foreshadow a great military future.

soon known for brilliant decisions on the battlefield, colonel macarthur was also to gain a reputation as a man who faced danger completely unafraid. he was the youngest american division commander in the war. twice wounded, twice gassed, he won more awards for valor than has ever been awarded to an american soldier. acclaimed as the greatest front line general of the war. returning to west point, he became the youngest superintendent the academy had ever had. here he brought in the curriculum to include a full college education, introduced a now widely followed program of

intramural athletics. today here he is a symbol and an inspiration. in 1930, macarthur was appointed chief of staff with the rank of full general. much of his time was spent building an army that was pared down to 50,000 soldiers. in keeping with his principal of examining the military situation at close range, he toured europe to observe the forces of other nations. in france, he was recognized once more for his outstanding military contribution to the allied cause. in germany he foresaw the buildup for war.

>> back home he begged his country and constitution to realize that the united states was in danger. as chief of staff, he foresaw the need for a new type of army, mechanized, mobile, and insisted that our forces were capable of rapid expansion. president roosevelt broke precedent by appointing the youngest chief of staff we have ever had to a second term. in the '20s, mark arthur had served in the philippines and in the '30s he was asked to return as their military advisor. a deep guide grew between the -- it was the basis for a gallant defense that was to come. in 1935, he began a 10-year plan to build up the defense of the philippines. in world war ii, it was to be

these forces that macarthur would lead in a desperate fight and on this ground. but now the leader at 57, having served in the united states army for 34 years decided to retire. four years later, it was as though his military career were just beginning. a few months before the attack upon pearl harbor, macarthur had been called back to service in the phillipines. on the day after pearl harbor, the philippines too were under attack. defense here was pitfully hampered by lack of men and -- with his knowledge of past campaigns, particularly with those of his father in this very

area, macarthur withdrew his meager forces into the baton peninsula. from the rocky fortress, he directed an operation as crucial as any in the war, this early campaign in the philippines, the heroic fighting by a lonely army of filipinos and americans for almost half a year caused a critical delay in the japanese timetable of attack. back at home, the leader of the first desperate ground fighting became a symbol to a nation just beginning to gird itself for all out war. the people found in him what they were beginning to discover in themselves, a spirit of intense determination.

suddenly macarthur was ordered by president roosevelt to leave to carry on the fight in australia. leaving the philippines hurt him deeply, as always, he wished to be at the front besides his comrades. when finally they were forced into the famous march, his answer was i shall return. until it's arrival in australia, the plan had been to await the japanese attack and prepare as well as possible. then it became apparent that the new southwest pacific commander had another plan. he had meant exactly, i shall return. he was determined to carry the war to the enemy, to new guinea, which was the direct route back to the philippines.

a long struggle lay ahead against huge numbers on countless islands, there seemed to be but one way, blast the enemy from every one of his islands in the pacific. victories came, knowing the area, knowing the enemy, utizing all of our air and navl skill, the commander captured his plan to observe only a few key positions on their way to the philippines. now against these key positions, the pattern of attack, first heavy preparory fire to soften up the objective.

next the landing. these were very unpredictable. there were many beaches, some were ideal, hardly more than a matter of getting one's feet wet. meanwhile the gain was tremendous, the enemy never expected us to come ashore here. there were other shores, many of them wicked. sometimes the attack was in frail cracks, sitting ducks if

surprise on the enemy had not been accomplished. on other beats, continuous tractors. in addition, combined operations of the three arms, the key to modern warfare. leaders and men shared the glow of victory. losses on the allied side were relatively small since damaging frontal assaults were avoided. the main body of the enemy was left to wither on the vine. to the outside world, to many who saw the news reels, the

progress being made by the general was admired an applauded. but to those who understood macarthur, they saw his determination to return to the philippines, this to him was a moral obligation. these islands, a second home, the place where he left his comrades, was the springboard of victory over japan. invasions in the southwest pacific continue. to the commander, these hard fought steps zigzagging -- finally having gained the northwest part of the islands, there was no question in his mind as to the next objective. what the president, the commander in chief, was not so sure in a meeting in hawaii in 1944, where shall we go,

douglas, to russia or the philippines? one less tangible reason for going into the philippines, said macarthur, on moral grounds, we have to support the filipinos, our allies and friends, the decision was made. lady gulf, lawsuit macarthur had made a survey of this area, it's potentiality and needs in case of war. now off of the star board was lady again.

once more, the enemy had not been ready for an attack. the commander watched with growing gratification. with the help guerrilla -- searching and surprising the enemies. now on the beaches of lady, a seemingly limitless supply of men and equipment, carefully laid plans. directing the attack, the

general seemed to be everywhere at once. every day at some point in the front lines, his men would spot the familiar faded field marshall's cap, and the odd sized corn cob pipe. the landings of lady and the gulf finally brought troops on the final difficult leg of the journey, on the road to manilla, where the going became more difficult, as the enemy threw in huge numbers of re-enforcements in an all out effort to halt the steady events. there was no timetable now in macarthur's mind, only that he should get there without delay, to free prisoners of the japanese guards. in manilla, the fighting was block by block, troops found what the leader had told them to expect. the enemy had dug in for a long siege.

to the general, this was the climax of the mission to which he was so deeply dedicated. and now, the door. the stronghold which earlier in the war had been so effective a fortress of with standing an attack was now his. finally while civilians celebrated joyfully and forces fought bitterly on the other, macarthur entered manilla. he had kept the soldiers faith.

probably his greatest reward was the visit to prison camps. the series of daring surprise raids have rescued every prisoner held by the japanese. i'm a little late, he said, but we finally came. once more the philippines were under an american flag. then suddenly and swiftly, the war against japan was brought to a close. the principal architect of the pacific victory, coordinated by the greatest general of the war, macarthur was the natural choice as supreme commander to enforce the surrender terms.

aboard themissouri, a celebration was to take unde war and peace and the historic moment that this was. >> it is my earnest hope that indeed the hope of all mankind that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past, a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance, and justice. let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that god will preserve it always.

>> now began one of the strangest occupations of any land by any conquerer. an idealist with firm convictions on the way democracy can be presented to eastern people, macarthur determined to guide the japanese through a complete social revolution. while the emperor with his deep hold upon the people was retained, almost every other institution became affected by what was entirely new to the japanese, western democracy. the ideas caught on under the sure leadership of macarthur. this was the enactment of a constitution and universal suffrage. the national diet, highest organ

of state power, became responsible to the people. monopolies were broken up, land reform was instituted which transformed tenants into owners. the rural capitalists became a strong bulwark against communism. in japan the social reforms macarthur proved one of the most successful experiments in history. my becane a friend. during the occupation, the people took him to their hearts and his family as well, his wife, she who had been beside her husband and their young son, arthur. the work of reform was going ahead when suddenly --

a huge military force swept down from north korea across the 38th parallel. handfuls of americans serving as occupation troops in japan were flown into south korea in a rapid show of strength aimed at showing greater resources than actually were at hand. the strategy worked. the north koreans ran in to resistance, bogged down waiting for more troops and artillery, while reinforcements poured into south korea to turn the tide of battle. during the ensuing months, general macarthur guided the war as commander in chief of united nations forces in korea. again, he studied the fighting at close range, a man in his 70s visiting battlefields as dauntlessly as he had many years

before when a young officer in france. then came the daring amphibious attack, behind the enemy's lines on a shore that others had declared too risky, the landing was a complete surprise and success. the north korean army was tee moralized. the victory has become recognized as a masterpiece of strategy. so it will return to its rightful inhabitants. there had been a long line of cities and towns returned under macarthur's leadership. it was at this time that president truman cited macarthur for his vision, his judgment, his will, his unshakeable faith. the korean war continued northward. the orders were the destruction of the north korean armed forces. and then the chinese communists entered the conflict, posing new

questions in washington not only military but political. while carrying out what he considered to be his duty as supreme commander, the pursuit of victory on the battlefield, general macarthur came into conflict with those he served. his long and distinguished military career was suddenly brought to a close in an official order from the president, commander in chief of the military forces of the united states. he was homeward bound for the first time in 14 years. the san francisco reception was the largest, the most vociferous history had ever known. the hero was home from the wars at last, and deserving the deepest respect and gratitude of the people he had served. in the midst of the ovation, the

husband graciously acknowledged that he had not stood alone. >> this is not only my beloved wife, but my best soldier. >> in the nation's capital, greater than all the medals and honors of his career, was his final tremendous tribute. and then general macarthur stepped down, from the great panorama of history for which he had figured so brilliantly, but a soldier's words spoken from a soldier's heart. >> the world has turned over many times since i took the oath on the plane at west point, and the hopes and dreams have long since vanished. but i still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barrack ballads of that day,

which proclaimed most proudly that old soldiers never die, they just fade away. and like the old soldier of that ballad, i now close my military career and just fade away. an old soldier who tried to do his duty as god gave him the light to see that duty. good-bye. >> the name of general douglas macarthur cannot fade away. it shines forth brilliantly on some of the most glorious pages of our history. now this is stais sergeant stua

queen inviting you to be with us again for another look at the big picture. >> "the big picture" is an official report for the armed forces and the american people, produced by the army pictorial center. presented by the department of the army in cooperation with this station. >> in a city whose public is dominated by statesmen and generals on horseback, this bronze rendition of mathematician and scientist albert einstein stands out. perhaps because there is little about the monumental about this washington monument even if it does stand 12 feet tall, weigh approximately four tons, here robert burke's distinctive style

which allows some cryptics to belabor him as the bubblegum sculpture. sitting atop a bench of north carolina granite, the famed scientist holds in his left hand a document which contained some of his most significant theories. the same bench contains quotes from einstein's unwavering belief in human powers, equality in front of the law and the duty of any truth seeker to reveal his findings no matter where they lead. the circular floor features an astronomical map, that features much of the universe, from the date of his dedication, april 17th, 1979, which also coincides with einstein's 100th birthday. 30 years later visitors of all ages are drawn to the iconic figure on the grounds of the national academies of science. children especially enjoy climbing into the lap of the scientifici