Jonathan M. Wainwright

Jonathan M. Wainwright
Name	Jonathan M. Wainwright
Caption	General Jonathan M. Wainwright IV
Birth date	23 August 1883
Death date	02 September 1953
Birth place	Fort Walla Walla, Washington
Death place	San Antonio, Texas
Placeofburial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Serviceyears	1906–1947
Rank	General
Commands	Philippine Division, I Philippine Corps
Battles	World War I, World War II, Philippines campaign (1941–1942)
Awards	Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Purple Heart

Jonathan M. Wainwright. Jonathan Mayhew "Skinny" Wainwright IV was a senior United States Army officer best known for his command of Allied forces during the defense of the Philippines in the early months of World War II. Forced to surrender after a prolonged and valiant stand on Corregidor, he endured over three years of brutal captivity as a prisoner of war under the Imperial Japanese Army. His leadership under desperate conditions and his subsequent survival made him a national hero, and he was personally presented the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman.

Early life and education

Born at Fort Walla Walla, Washington, he came from a distinguished military family; his grandfather was a Union Army officer in the American Civil War. He spent much of his youth at various United States Army posts, including Fort Apache in the Arizona Territory. Wainwright received his early education at Kansas State Agricultural College before securing an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1906, a classmate of future generals like George S. Patton, and was commissioned as a cavalry officer in the United States Army.

Military career

His early service included postings with the 1st Cavalry Regiment in the Philippines and along the Mexico–United States border during the Pancho Villa Expedition. During World War I, he served with the 82nd Division in France, though he did not see combat, and was promoted to temporary colonel. Between the wars, he attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and the United States Army War College in Washington, D.C.. He held various staff and command positions, including a tour as commander of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment at Fort Myer, Virginia.

World War II service

By 1940, Wainwright was in the Philippines as a major general commanding the Philippine Division. After the attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent Japanese invasion of the Philippines, he led forces in a fighting retreat into the Bataan Peninsula. Following the order of General Douglas MacArthur to evacuate to Australia, Wainwright was left in command of all United States Army Forces in the Far East on Bataan. After the fall of Bataan, he moved his headquarters to the fortified island of Corregidor in Manila Bay. Despite a fierce defense, continuous bombardment by the Imperial Japanese Navy and Japanese Army forced his surrender on May 6, 1942, to prevent further slaughter.

Later life and death

Wainwright spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war, held in harsh conditions at camps including Cabanatuan on Luzon and later in Manchuria at the Mukden POW camp. He was liberated in August 1945 by Soviet Red Army troops. Returning to the United States, he was promoted to general and received a hero's welcome, including a ticker-tape parade in New York City. He commanded Fourth United States Army at Fort Sam Houston in Texas before retiring in 1947. Wainwright died of a stroke in San Antonio, Texas, in 1953 and was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Awards and honors

His highest decoration was the Medal of Honor, awarded for his gallant and determined leadership in the face of overwhelming odds. He also received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on Bataan, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, and the Purple Heart. Other honors included the World War I Victory Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. In 1954, the United States Navy commissioned the USS *Wainwright*, a guided-missile frigate, in his memory.

Legacy

General Wainwright is remembered as a symbol of steadfast resolve and sacrifice during the darkest early days of World War II in the Pacific. His portrayal in films like *They Were Expendable* and *MacArthur* helped cement his public image. The Wainwright Hall at the United States Military Academy and Wainwright Army Airfield at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, are named in his honor. His memoir, *General Wainwright's Story*, provides a crucial firsthand account of the Battle of Bataan and the experiences of American prisoners of war under the Japanese Empire.

Category:United States Army generals Category:American prisoners of war in World War II Category:Recipients of the Medal of Honor Category:United States Military Academy alumni