Master Sergeant MacArthur was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of the 6002nd Supply Squadron, 6002nd Tactical Support Wing. He was in a vehicle accident and taken to the 8054th Evacuation Hospital at Pusan, South Korea, where he died on 12 November 1950.

MacArthur was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.