With echoes of the 1951 forced retirement of General Douglas MacArthur from his UN Korea command, General Stanley McChrystal retired from the US army this week.

Both Generals had a difference of opinion with their respective Presidents–Harry Truman and Barack Obama. McChrystal’s 2010 retirement had the contemporary edge provided by his idle words in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. And MacArthur’s had the cold war connotations of a war with China.

Their retirement speeches had geographic similarities. General Douglas MacArthur’s speech was to a joint session of Congress in the Capital. And General McChrystal’s speech was at a military review in Fort McNair, Washington D.C.

MacArthur’s speech to Congress is remembered for the line:

“And like the old soldier in that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the sight to see that duty.”

And General McChrystal’s best line from his 18 minute speech last week?

“I have stories on all of you, photos on many, and I know a Rolling Stone reporter.”

A great humorous line that worked hard at the beginning of his wistful speech that paid full compliments to his troops, colleagues, family and political masters. Full of humour, much of it self-deprecating, the General’s speech showed his class at his final military review.