Douglas MacArthur was Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during WWII. In April 1942, he was appointed supreme commander of Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the Philippines Campaign, which made him and his father Arthur MacArthur, Jr., the first father and son to be awarded the medal. He was promoted to General of the Army in December 1944 and he accepted the formal surrender of Japan in September 1945. He was the Allied commander of the Japan occupation forces after the surrender until 1951. He is remembered for his famous ‘Duty – Honor – Country’ speech at West Point in 1962. MacArthur is often referred to as 'the American Caesar'.