General Douglas MacArthur And My Grandpa

My grandpa served as a Seaman First Class aboard the USS Mercury (AK-42) during World War II in the Pacific theater. He took part in the Battle of Leyte between October 20 - 25, 1944 landing troops and supplies on the beaches from his landing craft. He was at Red Beach at Palo on the island of Leyte when General Douglas MacArthur made good on his promise to return to the Philippines. He later ran into General MacArthur during the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf three months later on January 9, 1945 where General MacArthur recreated his landing on the beachhead six times for the cameras and newsreels to commerate his "return" Apparently General MacArthur preferred his commanding mien in this version which is the famous picture that is in all the history books. However growing up, my grandpa had always told me he was just out of frame by a few feet. It wasn't until 60 years later, I finally found footage of my grandpa during MacArthur's landings that was featured on The Last Days Of WWII on the History Channel. Last year I also discovered an unpublished photo by a Life Magazine photographer who was also there that day. Finally to my surprise, my grandpa also appeared in footage taken at a different angle aboard MacArthur's landing craft on an episode of WWII in HD on the History Channel last night.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• General Douglas MacArthur
• Philippines
• Battle of Leyte
• Lingayen Gulf
• Palo Beach
• WWII
• World War 2
• Life Magazine
• History Channel

[bhamm46]

My father also served on the ak-42 boatswainmate 3rd class. He told me a few stories of his time on her. The one I remember is when the jap plane hit a boom and crashed after droping a bomb or torpedio dont recall wich it was. He passed away in 2001.

[1MeanBean]

@bhamm46

Wow. Your dad and my grandpa were both aboard during the same tour when it was attacked. He got chemical burns on his arm when the torpedo hit. He was suppose to get a purple heart for it but he turned it down at the time.

[GUMMYBEAYUH]

I didn't even realize it when I watched this video the first time, but just today my family was talking with my Uncle, who was the Coastie that commanded LCM's (He landed General Patton in Casablanca, participated in the invasion of Sicily, and then stormed Guadalcanal). I just found out, not even a few hours ago, that he was the CO of the LCM which drove General MacArthur & troops ashore in Leyte Gulf! You should've heard him recount his experience with MacArthur, he had tears in his eyes.

[1MeanBean]

@GUMMYBEAYUH

WOW! What a small world. I wish I could have told my grandpa about this.

[trajan75]

Nice tribute to your dad and General MacArthur.

[renegss]

@ 2:41 behind MCArthur to the right is Carlos P. Romulo. future U.N. president general assembly.

[pepesus1]

My grandpa is also on this video. The Filipino guy behind Major General Richard K. Sutherland. I will be posting a video about this soon...

[bhamm46]

If any-one out there has any pic's of the USS Mercury and are willing to share the with the son of a sailor who served on the AK-42 in the pacific, please let me know. Thank You.

[brent23ism]

my veteran grandpa is still alive but he s weak now..its oky coz he receive a money every month

[ssofaking]

god bless your grandpa for fighting just like my grandpa in this war

[adamantiumbullet]

macarthur looks like a total boss walking on the beach