General of the Army Douglas MacArthur (26 January 1880 – 5 April 1964) was an American general and Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He also served as field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was one of only five men ever to rise to the rank of General of the Army in the U.S. Army, and the only man ever to become a field marshal in the Philippine Army. In the fighting on the Western Front during World War I, he rose to the rank of brigadier general, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross twice and the Silver Star seven times. During World War II, MacArthur became Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area. For his defense of the Philippines, MacArthur was awarded the Medal of Honor. He officially accepted Japan's surrender on 2 September 1945, and oversaw the occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1951. He led the United Nations Command in the Korean War until he was removed from command by President Harry S. Truman on 11 April 1951.