No soldier has ever captured the American imagination like Douglas MacArthur. He led Americans into battle for a half-century, through glorious victories and soul-numbing defeats. Courageous and supremely egotistical, he battled anyone who dared question his military judgment — even the President of the United States.

Drawing on archival footage and first person interviews, this American Experience production tells the story of a true American hero. He was America's most decorated officer during WWI. During WWII he recovered from a humiliating defeat to make a triumphant return to the Philippines. In the Korean War he engineered a bold invasion only to suffer a bitter reversal at the hands of the Chinese. Fired by Harry Truman in one of the most controversial presidential decisions in history, he returned home to the greatest hero's welcome ever.