| − | Douglas was an average student, but his own intellect was revealed when the family moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1893. The West Texas Military Academy was his school, and he thrived on the combination of academics, religion, military discipline and social graces that were purely Victorian. His excellent record there, the top scores on the qualifying exam, and his family's political connections allowed Douglas in 1898 to receive an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Four years later General Arthur MacArthur returned from the Philippines where he was involved with the Spanish defeat and service as military governor, and looked on proudly as his son - with one of the highest and finest records in Academy history - graduated first of his class of 1903. MacArthur would be one of the few theater commanders in [[World War 2]] who was primarily educated in the nineteenth century.<ref>William M. Leary, ''MacArthur and the American Century: A Reader'', p. 471</ref> | + | Douglas was an average student for much of his life, but his own intellect was revealed when the family moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1893. The West Texas Military Academy was his school, and he thrived on the combination of academics, religion, military discipline and social graces that were purely Victorian. His excellent record there, the top scores on the qualifying exam, and his family's political connections allowed Douglas in 1898 to receive an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. General Douglas MacArthur graduated from West Point in 1903 with a score of 98.14%, which was the third-highest score ever recorded at the time. He was also the valedictorian of his 93-man class. |
| | + | Four years later General Arthur MacArthur returned from the Philippines where he was involved with the Spanish defeat and service as military governor, and looked on proudly as his son - with one of the highest and finest records in Academy history - graduated first of his class of 1903. MacArthur would be one of the few theater commanders in [[World War 2]] who was primarily educated in the nineteenth century.<ref>William M. Leary, ''MacArthur and the American Century: A Reader'', p. 471</ref> |
| | His first assignment was to the [[Philippines]], which soon developed into a love for that country. Soon after, he would accompany his father and mother on an extended tour of the Asia rim, visiting eleven countries, and treated like royalty in each. He had developed a theory by then, in fact he was convinced, that America's future lay with Asia. | | His first assignment was to the [[Philippines]], which soon developed into a love for that country. Soon after, he would accompany his father and mother on an extended tour of the Asia rim, visiting eleven countries, and treated like royalty in each. He had developed a theory by then, in fact he was convinced, that America's future lay with Asia. |