Jonathan Wainwright (general)

Jonathan Wainwright (general)
Name	Jonathan Wainwright
Caption	General Jonathan M. Wainwright IV
Birth date	23 August 1883
Death date	2 September 1953
Birth place	Fort Walla Walla, Washington
Death place	San Antonio, Texas
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Serviceyears	1906–1947
Rank	General
Commands	Philippine Division, I Corps, United States Army Forces in the Far East
Battles	World War I, World War II, Philippines campaign (1941–1942)
Awards	Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart

Jonathan Wainwright (general) was a senior United States Army officer best known for his command of Allied forces during the final, desperate stages of the Philippines campaign (1941–1942). Following the evacuation of General Douglas MacArthur, Wainwright assumed command of all United States Army Forces in the Far East and Filipino troops, leading a valiant but ultimately doomed defense against the Imperial Japanese Army. His subsequent years as a prisoner of war and his heroic endurance cemented his legacy as a symbol of resilience, for which he was later awarded the Medal of Honor.

Early life and education

Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV was born on August 23, 1883, at Fort Walla Walla in the Washington Territory. He came from a distinguished military family; his father, Robert Powell Page Wainwright, was a United States Army captain who died in the Philippines–American War. Following in this tradition, Wainwright attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1906. His early education and upbringing were steeped in the culture of the Old Army, preparing him for a career of service that would be tested in two world wars.

Military career

Commissioned into the 1st Cavalry Regiment, Wainwright's early service included postings in Texas, Kansas, and the Philippines. During World War I, he served with the 82nd Division in France, though he did not see combat, and later held staff positions in the War Department. Between the wars, he attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and the United States Army War College at Carlisle Barracks. He commanded the 3rd Cavalry Regiment at Fort Myer, Virginia, before being promoted to brigadier general in 1938.

World War II and the Philippines

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the start of the Pacific War, Wainwright was in the Philippines as commander of the Philippine Division. After Douglas MacArthur was ordered to Australia, Wainwright was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed command of all forces in the archipelago on March 11, 1942. He directed the final defense from the fortress island of Corregidor, overseeing the last stands on the Bataan Peninsula and at Corregidor itself against overwhelming Japanese forces. After enduring intense bombardment and with no hope of relief, he surrendered to General Masaharu Homma on May 6, 1942, to prevent further carnage.

Prisoner of war

Wainwright endured over three years of harsh captivity. Initially held at a prison camp in Tarlac on Luzon, he was later transported to Manchuria and held at the Hsian officer camp. As the highest-ranking American POW, he was subjected to deliberate humiliation and harsh conditions by his Imperial Japanese Army captors. His steadfast conduct and concern for his fellow prisoners became legendary. He was finally liberated in August 1945 by Soviet Red Army troops following the Soviet invasion of Manchuria and was immediately flown to meet Douglas MacArthur in Tokyo.

Later life and death

Upon his return to the United States, Wainwright was hailed as a hero. He was promoted to general and received a tumultuous welcome in Washington, D.C., including a parade and an address before the United States Congress. He commanded Fourth Army at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, before retiring from active duty in 1947. In his retirement, he authored his memoirs. Wainwright died on September 2, 1953, in San Antonio and was buried with full military honors in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery.

Awards and honors

For his "distinguished leadership and intrepidity" during the defense of the Philippines, Jonathan Wainwright was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman in September 1945. His other U.S. military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. He also received several foreign awards, including the Philippine Medal of Valor and the Order of the Cloud and Banner from the Republic of China. The USS *Wainwright* (DLG-28) was named in his honor.

Category:United States Army generals Category:American prisoners of war in World War II Category:Recipients of the Medal of Honor Category:1883 births Category:1953 deaths