President Franklin D. Roosevelt made MacArthur commander of the army forces in the far east. MacArthur led the defense in the Philippines. MacArthur flew to Australia. He made a famous pledge, "I shall return".
MacArthur received the medal of honor for his defense in the Phillippines. Roosevelt appointed MacArthur commander of the allied forces in the southwest pacific. "Early in 1943 MacArthur's forces drove the Japanese from southwest New Guinea. Japan surrendered in August, 1945." (MacArthur, Douglass/Article/ World Book online Reference Center) MacArthur was then appointed allied supreme commander.
