PROGRAM

The Battle of Kingston

replaced the boredom of New Orleans.

Then the former artilleryman's newly trained brigade stunned the British at Chippewa              and launched Winfield Scott's

53 year career.

Victories at Vera Cruz, Contreras,

Churubusco & Mexico City

embellished it.

Ascending to the command of the Army,

he served the nation for 53 years.

His final gift to the nation,

The Anaconda Plan,

gave Lincoln the key 

to victory in the Civil War.

The old giant retired to West Point,

where he died at 79, and where

cadets today wear

the grey and white of Chippewa

and memorize his opinion of West Pointers in the Mexican War.

Nearly a century later

at West Point, 

another giant began his 52 year

career as an engineer.

Douglas MacArthur began

his combat service

conducting a daring reconnaissance

into Mexico, as Lee, Beauregard, & McClellan had done for Scott.

Then, in France in 1918,

he proved his battle mettle and 

became a young brigadier.

A dozen years later,

he commanded the Army

After retirement,

he was recalled to the Army,

suffered a devastating defeat on Bataan,

led a bitter dogfight on New Guinea &

then leapt to victory in the Philippines.

While managing the reconstruction of Japan,

he fought his last war: defended at Pusan, landed at Inchon, destroyed the North Korean Army in days, angered The President, advanced to the Yalu,

then suffered a terrible defeat.

Recalled, he retired & in 1962

said his farewell to West Point.

He died in 1964 in NY City at 84,

nearly 100 years after Scott.