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"The General said, 'Try Scotch. You will never suffer a hangover from Scotch unless you get deadly drunk.' I have been drinking Scotch ever since." Interview, 28:26

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   Robert L. Richstatter
Image of Robert L. Richstatter
Captain Robert L. Richstatter receiving the Bronze Star from General Doyle Hickey in Tokyo, Japan 1951 [detail]
War: World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953
Branch: Army
Unit: AfHQ, USFA, GHQ (Japan), USEUR
Service Location: North Africa; Italy; German; Austria; Japan; Korea
Rank: Captain
Place of Birth: KS
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Robert Richstatter's official job title - Chief Administrative Officer of the Office of the Commander in Chief of Far East Command and United Nations Command-Korea - could be shortened to something more dramatic: Douglas MacArthur's personal secretary. From 1948 until 1951, when President Truman relieved the general of his command, Richstatter handled MacArthur's correspondence and filing, first in occupied Japan and then in Korea. Not everyone liked "the General," Richstatter admits, but he did, claiming that with MacArthur you always knew where you stood.

Interview (Audio)
»Interview Highlights  (3 clips)
»Complete Interview  (43 min.)
  Photos
»Photo Album (1 photo)
 Official Documents
»Citation For The Bronze Star Medal
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»Buddies
 Audio (Interview Excerpts) (3 items)
The day MacArthur was relieved of his command. (05:49) MacArthur's personality. (03:28) How MacArthur communicated with Japanese officials. (01:57)
  
 
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  The Library of Congress  >> American Folklife Center
  October 26, 2011
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