The Honor Guard continued on after General MacArthur’s departure,
although with some changes. In 1953 the Guard expanded from an Army unit
to include
representatives from all four branches of the U.S. armed forces. In
1957 the Guard was disbanded.
Nearly 2,000 men served in General MacArthur’s Honor Guard during
its six-year existence. Of that number, fewer than 400 are left today.
Thirty years
after their boss’ departure from Japan, several former Honor Guard
members formed what is now the General MacArthur Honor Guard
Association, an
organization comprised of Honor Guard veterans, their families and
others with an interest in this elite organization. The Honor Guard
Association
will hold its 2007 reunion in Norfolk and will officially dedicate Only the Finest: General MacArthur’s Honor Guard on Tuesday October 2, 2007,
when its members visit the MacArthur Memorial.