Not many people realize that Douglas MacArthurs father Arthur MacArthur was a Civil War hero. He was born in Chicopee Mass and was living in Wisconsin when the war broke out. He immediatly volunteered. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his taking the colors at Missionary Ridge (Chattanooga Tenn). After the war he went to law school, but decided to return to the army. He participated in the Indian Wars, the Spanish American War where he saw action in the Phillipines (how ironic that his son wound up there). He retired from the Army in 1909 and died while attending a reunion of his Civil War Unit. He suffered a massive heart attack while on the stage. He is buried in Arlington Cemetery.
Arthur and Douglas are the first Father and Son to both be awarded Medals of Honor.