General Douglas MacArthur Deserves Better Than What He Is Getting In Milwaukee

Something is dramatically wrong at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center in Wisconsin.  After decades of unity and success in “honoring the dead by serving the living,” the War Memorial Center (WMC) leadership has divided the veteran community due to a sharp change in direction by downgrading the legacy of Judge Arthur MacArthur, General Arthur MacArthur, and World War 2 hero General Douglas MacArthur. 

All three were honored on April 26, 2017 with the dedication of the ‘MacArthurs of Milwaukee’ exhibit in the WMC.  That exhibit was removed by WMC Chair Andy Gordon and WMC President Dan Buttery in February, 2024, without notice or discussion with exhibit owner VCRT MacArthur Forum.  The exhibit is no longer displayed in the WMC. When Buttery became president of the WMC, he began the process of systematically downgrading the presence of the three generations of MacArthur family honored at the WMC.  Buttery claimed, incorrectly, that WMC should not recognize and honor one person [There are three generations of MacArthurs recognized] but rather all veterans.  Historically, WMC always recognized and honored all veterans.  WMC was their home.

The recognition of the MacArthurs added historic content and excitement to the WMC.  Generals Arthur and Douglas MacArthur were recipients of the Medal of Honor, for example. And Douglas MacArthur publicly endorsed creating the WMC in April 1951 while in Milwaukee to receive an honorary degree from Marquette University. Five years later, when the WMC was completed, the following words were etched over his signature into the marble base of the Honor Roll Pool in the courtyard: “In tribute to those who did their duty as God gave them the light to do that duty.” In June, 1979, the general’s widow, Jean Faircloth MacArthur, came to Milwaukee for the first MacArthur Memorial Week which included a week of programs and dedication of the new statue of General Douglas Macarthur in MacArthur Square.

Thirty-five years later, in April 2014, the Veterans Community Relations Team (VCRT) organized the second MacArthur Memorial Week, which included programs and the moving of the MacArthur statue to Veterans Park north of the WMC on the shore of Lake Michigan.

The First Annual Kiwanis MacArthur Nimitz Patriotism Luncheon was held in April 2014 in Memorial Hall of the WMC. The ‘MacArthurs of Milwaukee’ exhibit, on permanent loan from VCRT MacArthur Forum, was dedicated in a special unveiling ceremony on April 26, 2017.

Indeed, the MacArthurs form a critical, prominent and visible part of the history and continued legacy of the WMC from the reflecting pool, to the MacArthur statue, to the former MacArthurs of Milwaukee exhibit to the Annual Kiwanis MacArthur Patriotism Luncheon.

Andy Gordon and Dan Buttery arbitrarily removed the MacArthurs of Milwaukee exhibit with no prior notice. WMC gained nothing from the removal, which did cause divisiveness, anger, and resentment on the part of veterans. There was no obvious, compelling reason to remove the exhibit other than the ongoing Buttery plan to downgrade the historic legacy of the MacArthur family of Milwaukee.

How important is the legacy of the MacArthurs?

It has been shown throughout the nation that when institutions and cities experience a financial or other crisis and then seek a compelling attraction for local and international visitors, they look upon the heritage received from military heroes and local leaders.

When Dan Buttery became president, WMC became an exception when he refused to properly recognize and embrace the exceptional legacy of the MacArthurs of Milwaukee, including the unique and special support provided to WMC by General Douglas MacArthur as one of Milwaukee’s most recognized and decorated military leaders and diplomats.

The statecraft of General MacArthur continues to influence and shape the geopolitics of Southeast Asia, Japan, and the Pacific. Between 1945 and 1951, as Supreme Allied Commander in Japan, MacArthur was among the first to predict the critical future importance of Asia in the world.  He successfully transformed Japan from a military dictatorship to a democracy, which is now the strongest ally of the United States in Asia as China continues its relentless, ongoing military expansion in the China Sea and beyond.  MacArthur’s role in developing Japan was (and is) a critical part of the current security of the US and the free world.

Gordon and Buttery neglected and failed to recognize that history and the ongoing implications of the vision and statecraft of Douglas MacArthur.  Instead, the downgrading of the MacArthurs of Milwaukee legacy has divided the veteran community at a time when the WMC, with survival at stake, should be reaching out to all veterans to unite them for the challenges ahead.  Tragically, Gordon and Buttery did the opposite.

The leadership and mission of the WMC, which has no meaningful financial survival plan, needs to be reassessed at this time before it is too late. The Milwaukee Art Museum is always waiting in the wings to take over the WMC.  If that happens, we will all sadly know who is to blame.  May God save the Milwaukee War Memorial Center at this challenging time!
 

Peter Tase is researching the MacArthur family, and is a graduate of UW-Milwaukee who resides in Whitefish Bay.