MacArthur’s Praetorians Jay Massaro
For longer than I can recall I’ve had on my want list the “MacArthur Honor Guard”. Maybe I saw one or maybe someone had told me about it; I do not recall. It supposedly had General MacArthur’s name on the DI. I have just found one!
There’s an entry for the “McArthur (sic) Honor Guard” (M6) in the Miscellaneous Catalog. Based on the design on the insignia, I would call it the “General Headquarters, Far East Command Honor Guard” which, with its five stars, certainly served MacArthur (without his name on the insignia).
The “MacArthur Honor Guard” (actually, also the G.H.Q., F.E.C. Honor Guard) bears “GEN.MACARTHUR” across the top portion of the shield. Made of silver with Japanese Occupation screwback.
There are also five different DIs for the G.H.Q., F.E.C. – the flag design in different sizes, with border, etc. To complicate the G.H.Q., F.E.C. Honor Guard situation, one came along with the “MacArthur Honor Guard” that is the flag design with “Honor Guard” across the top. It also has to be the G.H.Q., F.E.C. Honor Guard. Also silver, Japanese Occupation screwback.
Pomp and ceremony requite music. It was GHQ’s 293rd AGF Band, which provided it. The band is so listed in the Greater Tokyo Area Occupation Forces Telephone Directory (May 1947). AGF= Army Ground Forces. The DI exhibits similarities in design to the G.H.Q., F.E.C. Honor Guard DI and is also silver, Japanese Occupation screwback.
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