The President Awards General MacArthur a fourth Distinguished Service Medal

Summary: President Truman visited Wake Island in early October 1950, to confer with General Douglas MacArthur, commander-in-chief of United Nations Forces in Korea. General MacArthur and the U. N. forces had just secured a stunning victory, landing at Inchon, reclaiming Seoul, and securing South Korea from Communist hands. Shortly thereafter, Truman and his advisors determined that it would be beneficial to meet with MacArthur in order to discuss achieving a “political victory” in Korea. On October 9th, Truman sent a message to MacArthur expressing his desire to confer with him. Less than two days later, on October 11th, Truman was on his way to Wake Island, some 7,000 miles away. They selected Wake Island as the site of the meeting because it was private, yet accessible, and would not require the general to be too far from the front at a crucial period in the conflict.

•   Title and Table of Contents
•   The President's Party, Staff, Press, and Plane Crews
•   Flight Record
•   Foreword
•   11 October
•   12 October
•   13 October
•   14 October
•   15 October
•   16 October
•   17 October
•   18 October
•   Address of the President Delivered at San Francisco, October 17, 1950