Arthur MacArthur III

Arthur MacArthur III
Born June 1, 1876
Died December 2, 1923 (aged 47)
Washington, D.C.
Place of burial Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 1896–1923
Rank Captain
Battles/wars

Spanish-American War

Philippine-American War
Boxer Rebellion
World War I

Awards Navy Cross
Navy Distinguished Service Medal

Arthur MacArthur III (June 1, 1876 – December 2, 1923) was a United States Navy officer, whose active-duty career extended from the Spanish-American War through World War I. He was the elder brother of General Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964).

The son of United States Army General Arthur MacArthur, Jr. (1845–1912), he chose a career in the Navy instead of following his father, graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1896.

During the Spanish-American War, Ensign MacArthur served aboard the steam yacht USS Vixen (PY-4) in the Battle of Santiago. He later participated in naval operations during the Philippine-American War and the Boxer Rebellion.

In 1901, he married Mary H. McCalla (1877–1959), the daughter of Rear Admiral Bowman H. McCalla. They had five children, Arthur (who died young), Bowman McCalla, Douglas (named in honor of his brother), Mary Elizabeth, and Malcolm.

MacArthur commanded submarine USS Grampus (SS-4), destroyer USS McCall (DD-28), minelayer USS San Francisco (CM-2), armored cruiser USS South Dakota (ACR-9) and light cruiser USS Chattanooga (CL-18). For distinguished work in protecting convoys from U-boats engaged in the Atlantic U-boat Campaign during 1918, he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal and was promoted to captain.

MacArthur was a hereditary member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States by right of his father's having served as a Union officer in the Civil War.

Captain MacArthur died in Washington, D.C. of appendicitis in 1923, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery near his parents.

Awards

Navy Cross Citation –

For distinguished service in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Chattanooga engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies to European ports through waters infested with enemy submarines and mines.

References