On this Day, March 17, 1942, General Douglas MacArthur first makes his famous declaration, "I shall return" after leaving the Philippines during World War II.

President Franklin Roosevelt, fearful of one of America’s most successful and well-known generals being taken captive by the Japanese if Corregidor fell, was too bitter a conclusion to contemplate.

On February 23, Secretary of War Harry Stimson and Chief of Staff George Marshall sent MacArthur a message ordering him to leave the Philippines for Australia.

The President directs that you make arrangements to leave and proceed to Mindanao. You are directed to make this change as quickly as possible … From Mindanao you will proceed to Australia where you will assume command of all United States troops … Instructions will be given from here at your request for the movement of submarine or plane or both to enable you to carry out the foregoing instructions. You are authorized to take your chief of staff General Sutherland.

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