The Long Gray Line

7/20/2025

“The long gray line has never failed us. Were you to do so, a million ghosts in olive drab, in brown khaki, in blue and gray (my emphasis), would rise from their white crosses, thundering those magic words: Duty, Honor, Country.” - Douglas MacArthur.

General Douglas MacArthur gave his final speech (amazingly extemporaneous) to the Corps of Cadets at West point in 1962, only two years before his death in 1964.

As a minor student of history I have read as much on MacArthur’s life and times as most if, perhaps not more than most. There, in my opinion, was no greater advocate for the Republican cause than he was, including his admiration of Lincoln.

Only a cursory examination of sources will reveal his devotion to his family (Wisconsin roots, although as a technicality MacArthur was born down South, in Little Rock, Arkansas) and in particular, his father, General Arthur MacArthur, a Yankee who was awarded one of the earliest Congressional Medals of Honor. In fact, Douglas was awarded the same medal many decades later for his defense of the Philippines in 1942, making the two of them the first father/son awardees.

MacArthur’s mother was of a Virginia family and had two brothers who fought for the Confederacy.

MacArthur, himself, married a lady (Jean Faircloth) from Virginia whose grandfather was a captain in the Army of Northern Virginia.

As much as Douglas MacArthur was devoted, historically, to those Yankees in Blue, he had the greatest respect and love for those men in gray who gave their lives for their homes, families and a self-governing government while opposing nationalism.

But in todays political climate if some noxious voice or voices demanded that the opening paragraph, above, be edited to remove “gray,” I believe Douglas MacArthur might return again - from under his white cross, and the Mark Levins, David Hansons, Fox News et nauseum of the “media” world would be verbally closeted by a brilliant and courageous soldier who had great respect for the Confederate monuments that have been removed, and the courage and honor that went with them.

4 Comments

Perrin Lovett

7/21/2025 03:26:43 pm

Hear! Hear! It is a great and marvelous thing to honor all aspects of a shared if contentious history, a manly and honorable thing. Such was the potential road to reconciliation. Let's not forget that, in some omni-American spirit, Johnny Horton praised both North and South. To hell with the destroyers - who, after they finish off one facet, forever and always turn on others.

GENERAL KROMWELL

7/22/2025 09:11:05 pm

“The Resurrection of General Kromwell”

An Ode from Beyond the Dust

“I have heard the muffled drums of time,
But I rise again in a land gone blind.”

⸻

I rose from stone and Southern clay,
Where centuries of red men lay.
Where gray-clad ghosts still haunt the hill,
And cannon smoke rides breezes still.

My sword was drawn at Gaines’ Redoubt,
Where I and Gary charged the rout.
With Hampton near, we carved our stand--
Three lions guarding Dixie’s land.

Now I awake, but what is this?
My homeland sleeps in deep abyss.
No bugle calls, no sabers drawn--
But chains of comfort and the dawn
Of soft rebellion, clothed in peace,
Where truth is shamed and tongues must cease.

The oak is bowed, the chapel bare,
The boys no longer bold in prayer.
They kneel to kings of global will,
Not to the Christ of Calv’ry’s hill.

Where are the sons who knew the names
Of Jackson’s faith and Forrest’s flames?
Where are the men whose eyes would burn
To see their soil defaced in turn?

This land I fought for sleeps in shame,
Afraid to speak her fathers’ name.
The flag is folded, not by war--
But folded by her sons, no more.

Yet still I feel the Spirit’s breath,
And hear the hooves beyond cold death.
The Lord of Hosts has not yet fled--
Though churches whimper, Christ is Head.

And so I speak, with earth-stained tongue:
O Southern men, arise as one!
Let not your grandsires blush in vain--
Awake, though mocked, though bound, though slain!

Defend your kith, your kin, your creed,
For faith must plant where tyrants weed.
The world may scorn your ancient path--
But better scorn than coward’s wrath.

Lift high the plow, the sword, the Word,
And let your prayers like trumpets stir.
Not with hatred—not with pride--
But with a love for those who died.

And when they ask, “What cause was yours?”
Say, “Freedom’s faith behind her doors--
The right to live as conscience led,
To die with honor, not with dread.”

⸻

Finis.
—From the Tombstone of Gen. Kromwell, 1823–1881, Awakened 2025

⸻

W.E.Shofner

7/25/2025 10:02:14 am

My Dad, whose grandfather was from Bedford County, TN and who rode with Nathan Bedford Forrest during the War Against the States, didn't think much of MacArthur after the General abandoned him and his fellow Marines on Corregidor and especially after many suffered thru (if they were the "lucky ones") the Bataan Death march and the months ( if not, in many cases, years) in Japanese POW camps.

Paul Yarbrough

7/25/2025 03:43:58 pm

I would never question the intent of your father or his memories in service. However, I would like to say that I served in the USMC about 60 years ago and the general feeling toward MacArthur was one of respect. Obviously, I didn’t poll every Marine in service during my tour, but I did speak with some of the older officers and NCOs who served under him at Inchon and they revered his military genius.
Insofar as his Philippine defense in WWII after Pearl Harbor, I have read and studied quite a bit on the subject, and MacArthur did not want to leave but, in fact, was ordered to leave by the President.
Furthermore, in addition to a bevy of medals awarded to MacArthur over his career (including 3 times recommended for the Medal of Honor) he received TWO Purple Hearts in WWI. Dugout Doug? BS
To your father, I say: Semper Fi, Sir.

Author

Paul Yarbrough has written several pieces over the last few years for_ The Blue State Conservative, NOQ, The Daily Caller, Communities Digital News, American Thinker, The Abbeville Institute, Lew Rockwell _and perhaps two or three others. He is also the author of 4 published novels (all Southern stories , one a Kindle Bestseller), a few short stories and a handful of poems.

Paul Yarbrough

The Long Gray Line

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