Profiles in Pipes –– Douglas MacArthur

TPLHistory

Douglas MacArthur (born January 26, 1880, died April 5, 1964) was one of the most famous military figures in the history of the United States. His father, Arthur MacArthur, was the army’s senior ranking officer, and Douglas MacArthur himself graduated from West Point in 1903. He held several positions during the first World War in France before serving as superintendent at West Point. He became a general in 1930, and then later served as Field Marshal of the Philippines before the outbreak of World War II. 

After a brief retirement, he returned to action in 1941 and was instrumental in key Allied offensive operations in the South Pacific, including places like the Philippines, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Interestingly, newsreel footage of MacArthur shows him puffing on his trademark corn cob pipe just moments before landing on the Philippines for his much vaunted return in 1944. 

Following World War II, MacArthur acted as Allied commander of the Japanese occupation. He also held command of the United Nations’ forces during the Korean war until President Harry Truman replaced him following a series of high-profile disagreements in April of 1951. MacArthur died in 1964.

MacArthur is a historically divisive character who has been celebrated for his military accomplishments and alternatively criticized for controversial positions and decisions. Over the years, MacArthur has been frequently portrayed (and occasionally lampooned) in media relating to the second World War. Actors Henry Fonda, Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, Tommy Lee Jones, and Liam Neeson have all played Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur is perhaps best remembered today for his unique outward appearance, which included a signature military cap, aviator sunglasses, and a substantial corn cob pipe. 

So commonplace was MacArthur’s pipe that the Missouri Meerschaum Company began to special produce MacArthur-style pipes based on the general’s preferences. MacArthur was such a devoted pipe smoker that he sent custom-made pipe schematics to the Missouri Meerschaum Company through an assistant. He was often seen and photographed with this pipe. MacArthur’s pipe is defined by a shortened and absorbent tobacco chamber, an elongated bowl, and a lengthy shank. It’s been said that MacArthur would smoke whatever tobacco was available from the Post Exchange (PX) where he was stationed. MacArthur 5-star corn cob pipes are still available for purchase and are popular to this day.

vtgrad2003

"Big Mac" kicks ass! A real man! Not a genderless non-binary!

Zouave

@vtgrad2003 have you ever listened to Dan Carlins Hardcore History podcast? In his series Supernova in the Pacific he refers to MacArthur as "Douglas the Situation Macarthur. 😂 It's great listening, and his series blueprint for Armageddon was even better.

PappyJoe

I've read somewhere that MacArthur was also a cigarette smoker. While he was also a dedicated pipe smokers, I have also read that he mainly smoked the larger corn cob for photo opportunities. In fact, there is this passage from history.com:

The publicity-conscious general personally fashioned his signature look that included his ornate hat, aviator sunglasses and corncob pipe. A long-time cigarette smoker, MacArthur provided the Missouri Meerschaum Company with precise specifications for the deep-bowled, long-stemmed pipe that he used as a distinctive prop during public appearances. The outsized pipe was good for show but difficult to smoke, so Missouri Meerschaum gave the general other pipes to use for his pleasure. Missouri Meerschaum continues to craft replicas of MacArthur’s customized pipe, and Ray-Ban named a sunglass line after him in 1987.

thebadgerpiper

Big fan of General MacArthur's look. To me, he's one of history's most iconic pipe smokers. 

vtgrad2003

@Zouave
No I haven't heard it before...YouTube is it?

motie2

@vtgrad2003

https://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-series/

vtgrad2003

Thank you! 

motie2

THE STORY BEHIND GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR'S LEGENDARY MISSOURI-MADE PIPE

https://missourilife.com/missouri-meerschaum-1/

Zouave

@vtgrad2003 my grandfather was in the Pacific, the Philippines. He refused to talk about anything he saw. After listening to Carlin's series on the Pacific theater, I better understand why. 

utilityworker101

I bought one of those big ass corncob MacArthur pipes. It holds an ungodly amount of tobacco and smokes cool!  I don’t clench it because I think I’d need counterweights attached to my neck!