This "old soldier" was a general at age 38; in 1930 at age 50, he was Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army
A four-star general, he retired in 1939, but returned... [DOC] [TLE] South African Military History Society - Journal - General Douglas ... [PAR] A characteristic study of U.S. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, ... And like 
the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away .... 
At the age of 38, he could for the first time square up to his Dad and ask: 
Governor, how about it?