When discussing General Douglas MacArthur’s tenure as Philippine military advisor in the 1930s, nearly all of MacArthur’s biographers describe MacArthur as being excited to accept the rank of Philippine field marshal – even in a nearly non-existent force. They also relate a story that he designed a pompous new uniform for his new rank. This uniform is frequently cited as proof that MacArthur was obsessed with image but light on achievement. BUT -- is the uniform story true? In 2005, Dr. Richard Meixsel published some research in The Journal of Military History that answered this question. An expert on Philippine military history, Dr. Meixsel joined the MacArthur Memorial Podcast to discuss the infamous field marshal uniform.
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