Wake Island Conference

On October 15, 1950, U.S. President Harry S. Truman and General Douglas MacArthur met on Wake Island to confer about the progress of the Korean War.

MacArthur's record of being awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal five times has been equaled only by Dwight D. Eisenhower.

On October 30, 1950, MacArthur wrote to Truman: "I left the Wake Island conference with a distinct sense of satisfaction that the country's interests had been well served through the better mutual understanding and exchange of views which it afforded.

I hope it will result in building a strong defense against future efforts of those who seek for one reason or another (none of them worthy) to breach the understanding between us.

They would quickly regress into disagreement with each other over policy in Korea, ultimately resulting in Truman's dismissal of MacArthur.

L to R: President Truman reads an award citation to General Douglas MacArthur following their meeting at Wake Island. In the background are, from left: Press Secretary Charles Ross , Commander in Chief Pacific Admiral Arthur Radford , Secretary of the Army Frank Pace , and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Omar Bradley . October 15, 1950.
Truman in a dark suit and tie and light hat shakes hands with MacArthur, in uniform wearing a shirt but no tie and his rumpled peaked cap.
General of the Army MacArthur greets President Truman at the conference.