Gen. Douglas MacArthur and his household left the Philippine island of Corregidor on this present day in historical past, March 11, 1942. 

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to depart the island after it grew to become clear it was not secure for MacArthur to stay along with his troops, notes the Historical past Channel web site. 

Deeply distraught, MacArthur needed to go away 90,000 troops behind, the identical web site mentioned.

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From 1935 till 1946, the Philippines was a commonwealth of america. 

By mid-1941, it was believed Japan had set its sights on invading the Philippines. 

On July 26, 1941, Roosevelt issued a presidential order “calling into service of america of America all of the organized army forces of the Authorities of the Commonwealth of the Philippines,” in line with the web site for the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Schooling Undertaking (FilVetREP). 

Gen. Douglas MacArthur, pictured right here, was pulled out of retirement in July 1941 to steer the newly created United States Military Forces within the Far East.  (Keystone/Getty Pictures)

MacArthur, who had retired from the army 4 years earlier than, was designated as the overall in control of the newly created United States Military Forces within the Far East.

Nevertheless, the “process going through MacArthur appeared not possible,” mentioned the FilVetREP web site.

The forces suffered from an absence of kit and manpower, in comparison with the encroaching Japanese military. 

By March of the next 12 months, it was evident the Japanese would overpower the troops within the Philippines — and that MacArthur must go away. 

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The journey to security was treacherous. 

In the course of the greater than 500-mile boat trip to the island of Mindanao, MacArthur confronted mines, tough seas and the specter of the Japanese Navy, says the Historical past Channel. 

Whereas in Australia, MacArthur obtained the devastating information the troops nonetheless within the Philippines wouldn’t be receiving aid. 

When he arrived at Mindanao greater than a day after departing from Corregidor, MacArthur praised the work of the boat’s commander, John D. Bulkeley.

“You have taken me out of the jaws of demise, and I will not neglect it,” mentioned MacArthur. 

A number of days after arriving at Mindanao, MacArthur and his household flew to northern Australia. They then took one other flight and a prepare to Melbourne, says the Historical past Channel. 

Gen. Douglas MacArthur vowed to return to the Philippines — a promise he made good on over two years after he was ordered to depart.  (Getty Pictures)

On June 30, 1942, in Melbourne, MacArthur was introduced with the Medal of Honor for “conspicuous management in making ready the Philippine Islands to withstand conquest, for gallantry and intrepidity above and past the decision of responsibility in motion towards invading Japanese forces, and for the heroic conduct of defensive and offensive operations on the Bataan Peninsula,” the Congressional Medal of Honor Society web site indicated. 

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“He mobilized, skilled and led a military, which has obtained world approval for its gallant protection towards an incredible superiority of enemy forces in males and arms,” mentioned the identical supply.

“His utter disregard of non-public hazard beneath heavy fireplace and aerial bombardment, his calm judgment in every disaster, impressed his troops, galvanized the spirit of resistance of the Filipino folks and confirmed the religion of the American folks of their Armed Forces,” the quotation additionally mentioned.

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Whereas in Australia, MacArthur obtained the devastating information that the troops nonetheless within the Philippines wouldn’t be receiving aid. 

Talking of the Philippines, MacArthur promised the press, “I shall return” — a phrase that might “change into his mantra in the course of the subsequent two and a half years,” the Historical past Channel web site famous.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service within the Philippines.  (Getty Pictures )

The American and Filipino troops that have been nonetheless in Corregidor have been left with out meals or help — and their different provides have been rapidly overtaken by the Japanese, that web site notes.

“Bataan fell in April, and the 70,000 American and Filipino troopers captured there have been compelled to undertake a demise march wherein at the least 7,000 perished,” mentioned the web site. 

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Corregidor surrendered in Could, with an extra 15,000 American and Filipino troops captured.

With the warfare in Europe taking on many of the assets, the Philippines weren’t a precedence on the time. 

On Oct. 20, 1944, MacArthur made good on his promise to return to the Philippines, coming ashore on the island of Leyte and later making a radio broadcast saying to the nation that he had returned. 

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Solely about 30,000 of the 90,000 troops left within the Philippines on March 11, 1942, lived to see MacArthur’s return in 1944, mentioned the Historical past Channel. 

 “I’m a bit of late,” he advised the troops, “however we lastly got here.”