Alba ’89 to Share Family Story in New Memoir

Albert L. Alba ’89, retired Army lieutenant colonel and former West Point faculty member, will publish his new memoir, Take Me to MacArthur: A Memoir of War, Service, Family, and the American Dream, on December 1, 2026.

The book traces the extraordinary journey of Alba’s father, Leoncio Alba, from rural Bicol in the Philippines to his service as a guerrilla during World War II and more than 25 years in the U.S. Navy. Drawing on family recollections, military records and archival research, Alba examines the sacrifices his parents made to build a life for their children and the opportunities that followed for subsequent generations.

The title has its roots in a poignant moment following Alba’s graduation from West Point in May 1989. His father asked him to take him to the statue of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, where he became emotional reflecting on his own military journey and the significance of his son’s graduation. That experience ultimately inspired Alba to explore his father’s story and its connection to his own life and service.

The family’s West Point legacy continued with Alba’s son, Darrin, who graduated with the Class of 2015. Through their intertwined stories of military service, family and the American dream, Take Me to MacArthur offers a personal reflection on the sacrifices of one generation and the opportunities passed to the next.

Published by Legacy of Service Press, the memoir will be available in paperback, hardcover and ebook editions beginning December 1.

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