Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is one of the most interesting pieces of General militaria we have ever offered, an enormous wooden fountain pen replica, about 65” long, signed and presented by Douglas MacArthur to Famous Pacific War Correspondent Philip Ludwell Jackson of the Oregon State Journal. We have found several newspaper articles confirming that Jackson was not only on the USS Missouri with MacArthur when he signed the surrender documents on September 2nd, 1945, but that he was also a guest of MacArthur’s in Manila, Okinawa, and Guam with the Pacific Fleet. It was likely during this time that MacArthur had the pen made and presented to Jackson.

The pen appears to be modeled after a Parker 1928 Duofold, the exact model of pen used by MacArthur to sign the surrender documents on September 2nd, 1945. It measures roughly 65” in total, the entire body and cap being constructed of wood with the nib being constructed of steel. It is painted silver with a gold band near the end of the cap, and black near and around the nib. The nib itself was painted to mimic the indents it would have. The nib has unfortunately suffered some dents and is no longer straight, having been hit several times on its tip, bending the metal and stripping some of the paint. This however is the only serious flaw the piece has. There are a great deal of scuffs and marks creating a patina for the pen, which do not delineate from the focus. Its thickest region has a diameter of roughly 5”. There is also a small piece of wood on the cap clasp that is cracked and very loose, but still attached. Please exercise caution when handling!

The pen is painted on the body:

To Phil Jackson ~ Tokio, Sept., 2, 1945
Famous Pacific War Correspondent
Your Pal, Douglas MacArthur

Philip Ludwell Jackson was born on October 18th, 1893 in Portland, Oregon. Philip’s father was the founder and publisher of the Oregon State Journal from 1902 until his death in 1924. On September 15th, 1917, Philip was appointed a 1st Lieutenant of the Quartermaster Corps, U.S. Army. He would serve with Mechanical Repair Shop 302, being promoted to Captain on October 12th, 1918. Philip served overseas from January 11th, 1918, until June 9th, 1919, being discharged at Camp Devens, Massachusetts on June 12th, 1919.

After World War I, in 1919, Jackson took the helm as publisher of the Oregon State Journal. During his time in this position he traveled around the world for the purpose of reporting. He would face his greatest challenge as a journalist in 1945, when he traveled to the Pacific Theater in the final months of World War II. Arriving in July 1945, Jackson met with General Douglas MacArthur and became well-acquainted with him, accompanying him as his guest to witness the display of the U.S.’ Pacific Fleet in Manila, Okinawa, and Guam, and on September 2nd, 1945, he accompanied the General to witness the surrender of Japan aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. It was during this period that Jackson would have been presented with the pen, but we have found no official mention of it.

Following this, Jackson began on what he felt was one of the most important reporting jobs of the war’s end, he interviewed dozens of liberated prisoners, getting first word of their safety and condition back to their families in Oregon. After returning to the United States, Jackson returned to the Oregon State Journal, where he served as publisher until his death from a heart attack on February 14th, 1953 at the age of 59.

This pen is one of the most interesting pieces we have ever come across, and commemorates the life & work of a war correspondent who witnessed the Surrender of the Japanese Forces and documented the destruction of Japan at the end of the war. General Douglas MacArthur is one of the most famous generals in American history, making this a once-in-a-lifetime piece. Comes ready for further research and display.