General Douglas MacArthur lands in the Philippines at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon, January 9, 1945

General Douglas MacArthur lands in the Philippines at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon, January 9, 1945

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Description
After covering the Italian and French campaigns of 1944, Mydans was sent back to the Pacific that November. Although he photographed some of the Leyte campaign, he missed General MacArthur's famous return to the Philippines. On January 9, 1945, Mydans photographed MacArthur as he landed in Luzon. According to Mydans, MacArthur did not believe in posed pictures: No one I have ever known in public life had a better understanding of the drama and power of a picture.
When the time came, Mydans jumped out of the boat unto the pontoon walkway set up for MacArthur's arrival only to see the craft reverse its engines and back away. Mydans quickly ran across the beach and waited for the boat to come to him. Once the ramp dropped, he photographed MacArthur knee-deep in the water as he waded ashore, thus creating one of his most memorable shots. The image was taken just five hours after the first wave assault on the beach. Mydans was the only still photographer to accompany General MacArthur on the U.S.S. Boise, his command ship, during the invasion of Luzon. Many years after that landing, Mydans shared an intimate moment with MacArthur upon their return to Luzon. After standing on Lingayen Beach in front of a plaque commemorating the event, MacArthur walked over to Mydans and said, "This is the highlight of it all, isn't it? For you and me." (LIFE, July 14, 1961).
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
Photograph
Date made
1945-01-09
1945
photographer
Mydans, Carl
place made
Philippines: Lingayen Gulf
Physical Description
paper (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 11 in x 14 in; 27.94 cm x 35.56 cm
ID Number
2005.0228.069
accession number
2005.0228
catalog number
2005.0228.069
See more items in
Work and Industry: Photographic History
Photography
Carl Mydans
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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Comments

The Man to the right of the picture with the cocked Helmet is August " Augie " West of Shelbyville IL

Mac Frederick

Fri, 2021-08-20 16:38

I wish that I knew exactly where that was. I walked the beaches there, when I visited my wife's family in Lingayen, Pangasinan Province.

Rexford Dundon

Mon, 2020-12-14 17:11

General Douglas MacArthur originally landed in the Blue Beach of San Fabian, eastern section of the Lingayen Gulf, exactly 2:15 p.m. of January 9, 1945.

Rachel

Thu, 2021-07-01 10:44

Who are the other people in this photo of MacArthur?

Wade S Coons

Fri, 2017-04-14 09:46

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