Comments on: General MacArthur’s Tokyo HQ http://www.armchairgeneral.com/general-macarthurs-tokyo-hq.htm All things military history! Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:45:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: William Robertshaw http://www.armchairgeneral.com/general-macarthurs-tokyo-hq.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8180 William Robertshaw Sun, 07 Jun 2009 08:47:24 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/?p=2498#comment-8180 I was soldier working at the close by Meiji bldg. I regularly walked past the Daichi bldg and saw the General coming and going in his limo in front of the bldg. This drew crowds of 100 to 200 people both Japanese citizens and soldiers from USA, Britain, Australia, India. This was the period between Nov 45 nd May47. It was a strange experience. People were starving and dying every day. I was soldier working at the close by Meiji bldg. I regularly walked past the Daichi bldg and saw the General coming and going in his limo in front of the bldg. This drew crowds of 100 to 200 people both Japanese citizens and soldiers from USA, Britain, Australia, India. This was the period between Nov 45 nd May47.
It was a strange experience. People were starving and dying every day.

]]> By: Wes Radford http://www.armchairgeneral.com/general-macarthurs-tokyo-hq.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8174 Wes Radford Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:17:51 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/?p=2498#comment-8174 I am visiting Tokyo and hope to see the office. My dad was part of the detail that searched The Grand Hotel and made sure it was secure before McCarthur arrived. It would be exciting to be able to visit it 60+ years since Dad was there. I am visiting Tokyo and hope to see the office. My dad was part of the detail that searched The Grand Hotel and made sure it was secure before McCarthur arrived. It would be exciting to be able to visit it 60+ years since Dad was there.

]]> By: Lodewijk Jongerius http://www.armchairgeneral.com/general-macarthurs-tokyo-hq.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8095 Lodewijk Jongerius Tue, 19 May 2009 18:47:31 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/?p=2498#comment-8095 As Senior Purser with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines I visited MacArthurs office in the Dai-Ichi during my Tokyo lay-over somewhere in the 1980's. At that time I was reading MacArthurs biography and I just asked one of KLM's Tokyo bureau staff to fetch me an appointment, which I got some ten minutes later. Three Japanese gentlemen of the Dai-Ichi (who hardly spoke any English) took me to the sixth floor, opened some doors, and there it was. Very strange experience because it was, and still is, quite unknown! The desk on the photograph looks quite empty. I remember some of those famous "corn pipes" of MacArthur on the desk and a visitors book, with only 5 pages of names of visitors. Regards, Lodewijk. As Senior Purser with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines I visited MacArthurs office in the Dai-Ichi during my Tokyo lay-over somewhere in the 1980’s. At that time I was reading MacArthurs biography and I just asked one of KLM’s Tokyo bureau staff to fetch me an appointment, which I got some ten minutes later. Three Japanese gentlemen of the Dai-Ichi (who hardly spoke any English) took me to the sixth floor, opened some doors, and there it was. Very strange experience because it was, and still is, quite unknown!

The desk on the photograph looks quite empty. I remember some of those famous “corn pipes” of MacArthur on the desk and a visitors book, with only 5 pages of names of visitors. Regards, Lodewijk.

]]> By: Spider Purcell http://www.armchairgeneral.com/general-macarthurs-tokyo-hq.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8084 Spider Purcell Wed, 13 May 2009 20:19:29 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/?p=2498#comment-8084 This brings back memories from the years 1947-48. I was in the U.S. Army, stationed in Tokyo, and my job as a clerk was in an office in the Dai Ichi building. Although I never was physically in General MacArthur's office I did see him on several occasions as he entered or left the building. On one occasion I was returning to my my barracks on foot and was in the middle of the street when the General's limo came by. I stood at attention and saluted as he went by. I'm not sure he even noticed me though. For a young 18 year old the year I spent in Tokyo was a memorable experience. This brings back memories from the years 1947-48. I was in the U.S. Army, stationed in Tokyo, and my job as a clerk was in an office in the Dai Ichi building. Although I never was physically in General MacArthur’s office I did see him on several occasions as he entered or left the building. On one occasion I was returning to my my barracks on foot and was in the middle of the street when the General’s limo came by. I stood at attention and saluted as he went by. I’m not sure he even noticed me though. For a young 18 year old the year I spent in Tokyo was a memorable experience.

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