# Courtney Whitney

Major General Courtney Whitney (May 20, 1897 – March 21, 1969) was a lawyer and United States Army commander during World War II who later served as a senior official during the American occupation of Japan (1945–1951). He played a major role in the liberalization of Japanese government, society, and economy during the occupation.

## Early life

Born in Washington, D.C., Whitney enlisted in the United States Army in 1917 and became a pursuit pilot. He received his law degree from George Washington University in 1927 and left the army to open a private practice in Manila.

## World War II

In 1940, Whitney returned to active duty. He worked in intelligence in Washington, DC, serving as the intelligence officer to the 14th Air Force in China until 1943, when General Douglas MacArthur requested for him to be assigned to the Southwest Pacific Theater. Initially stationed at MacArthur's headquarters in Australia, Whitney helped to organize anti-Japanese resistance in the Philippines. Described by author William Manchester as an "ultraconservative Manila corporation lawyer", Whitney held highly racist views towards Filipinos, and was also a staunch anti-communist, opposing U.S. aid to Philippine communist guerrillas, such as the Hukbalahap.
Whitney was present at the Battle of Leyte in 1944 and landed in the Philippines with MacArthur, after which he was assigned chief of the Philippine section of the Allied Intelligence Bureau. After the restoration of the Commonwealth of the Philippines by Allied forces, Whitney was assigned responsibility for Philippine civil affairs.

## Occupation of Japan

After Japan surrendered, Whitney accompanied MacArthur to Atsugi Air Base and became Chief of the Government Section at GHQ. With Lt. Col. Milo Rowell, he drafted the Constitution of Japan and sent it to the Diet for approval. Historians emphasize the similarity of occupation policies to the US New Deal programs of the 1930s. Moore and Robinson note that "New Deal liberalism seemed natural, even to conservative Republicans such as MacArthur and Whitney."
Whitney remained close to MacArthur throughout the occupation and served as Chief of Government Section at his headquarters. He accompanied MacArthur during the Korean War and received the Silver Star and a second Legion of Merit for his brief visits to the front. Whitney resigned from the army after MacArthur was removed from command in 1951. He was decorated with the Army Distinguished Service Medal at his retirement ceremony. In 1956, Whitney's biography of his commander, MacArthur: His Rendezvous With History, was published.

## Decorations

USAF Command Pilot wings :
| 1st Row | Army Distinguished Service Medal | Army Distinguished Service Medal | Army Distinguished Service Medal | Army Distinguished Service Medal | Army Distinguished Service Medal | Army Distinguished Service Medal | Army Distinguished Service Medal | Silver Star | Silver Star | Silver Star | Silver Star | Silver Star | Silver Star |
| 2nd Row | Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster | Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster | Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster | Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster | Air Medal | Air Medal | Air Medal | Air Medal | World War I Victory Medal | World War I Victory Medal | World War I Victory Medal | World War I Victory Medal | American Defense Service Medal | American Defense Service Medal | American Defense Service Medal | American Defense Service Medal |
| 3rd Row | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver and two bronze service stars | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver and two bronze service stars | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver and two bronze service stars | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver and two bronze service stars | World War II Victory Medal | World War II Victory Medal | World War II Victory Medal | World War II Victory Medal | Army of Occupation Medal | Army of Occupation Medal | Army of Occupation Medal | Army of Occupation Medal |
| 4th Row | Korean Service Medal with two service stars | Korean Service Medal with two service stars | Korean Service Medal with two service stars | Korean Service Medal with two service stars | National Defense Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal | United Nations Korea Medal | United Nations Korea Medal | United Nations Korea Medal | United Nations Korea Medal | Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars | Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars | Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars | Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars |

## Legacy

Whitney is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He is also represented at the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park in Leyte, in the Philippines as one of the statues of MacArthur and his party wading ashore at Leyte. Whitney's statue is behind the statues of Sergio Osmeña and Carlos P. Romulo.

## In popular culture

Whitney was played by Dick O'Neill in the 1977 film MacArthur
Whitney appears frequently as one of MacArthur's key advisors in James Webb's historical novel "The Emperor's General."