General Douglas MacArthur graduated first in his class at West Point. He was decorated nine times for heroism in WWI while actively participating in the fighting. He refused to wear a gas mask and he was the victim of gas warfare. After WWI he became the superintendent at West Point. In 1930 he became Army Chief of Staff. He retired from the US Army in 1937 and was working for the provisional Philippine government as the head of the Philippine defenses just before WWII broke out.

(Book – American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur – William Manchester)