Jonathan M. Wainwright (general)
American WWII army general captured by Japanese

Jonathan M. Wainwright
Wainwright after World War II and promotion to full General
Birth nameJonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV
Nicknames"Skinny", "Jim"
Born(1883-08-23)23 August 1883
Walla Walla, Washington Territory, U.S.
Died2 September 1953(1953-09-02) (aged 70)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Place of burial
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Army
Service years1906–1947
RankGeneral
Commands
Conflicts
AwardsMedal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross
Army Distinguished Service Medal Medal of Valor
RelationsJonathan Mayhew Wainwright I (great-grandfather)
Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II (grandfather)
Signature

Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV (23 August 1883 – 2 September 1953) was a United States Army general, the Commander of Allied forces in the Philippines, and prisoner of war during World War II.

Wainwright commanded American and Filipino forces during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, for which he received a Medal of Honor. He oversaw the largest ever surrender of American armed forces in May 1942, on the island stronghold of Corregidor. At the time of his capture, Wainwright was the highest-ranking American prisoner of war. He spent three years in Japanese prison camps, during which he suffered from malnutrition and mistreatment. Americans viewed him as a hero during his ordeal. In August 1945, he was escorted from Manchuria by the Red Army. Shortly after Japan's surrender, Wainwright was promoted to four-star General.

Early life and training

Jonathan Wainwright was born at Fort Walla Walla on 23 August 1883 to Josephine and Robert Powell Page Wainwright. Josephine's father was civil engineer Edward W. Serrell. Robert was the third generation of a prominent family. His grandfather was Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, an episcopal bishop in New York City. Robert's father was Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II, a Lieutenant in the United States Navy who was killed in action during the January 1, 1863 Battle of Galveston in the American Civil War.[1]: 41  Congressman J. Mayhew Wainwright was the younger Jonathan's cousin.[2]

Robert Wainwright was a United States Army officer who was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Cavalry in 1875, rose to the rank of major, and commanded a squadron of the 5th Cavalry Regiment in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish–American War. He was posted at Walla Walla, Washington Territory when Jonathan was born. Robert gave his father's name to his son, emphasizing the family tradition of military service.[3]: 29  The family called him by his middle name.[3]: 12  In 1902, Robert died of disease in the Philippines.[4]

Jonathan Wainwright graduated from Highland Park High School in Illinois in 1901, and from United States Military Academy in 1906.[5] He was 6'2" but weighed only 125 pounds when he arrived at West Point, which gave rise to the nickname "Skinny".[3]: 64  He served as First Captain of the Corps of Cadets.[6]

Wainwright was commissioned in the cavalry.[7] Like his father, he served with the 1st Cavalry Regiment. In 1906, he was stationed in Texas. In 1908, the regiment transferred to the Philippines. Wainwright saw combat on Jolo during the Moro Rebellion.[4]

In 1912, Wainwright attended the Mounted Service School in Fort Riley, Kansas. He broke his leg when a horse kicked him, and he was unable to finish the basic course until 1916.[8]: 25  When he was back with the 1st Cavalry on Mexican border patrol in 1916, Wainwright was promoted to Captain. By 1917, he was on the staff of the first officer training camp at Plattsburgh, New York.[1]: 30, 36 

In 1911, Wainwright married Adele "Kitty" Holley. They had one son, Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright V (1913–1996).[9]

World War I

During World War I, Wainwright was promoted to major in August 1917 and sent to Camp Devens to serve with the 76th Division. In February 1918, he was ordered to France. In June, he became assistant chief of staff of the U.S. 82nd Infantry Division, with which he took part in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. During the latter battle, an explosion permanently damaged Wainwright's hearing. He was breveted to lieutenant colonel in October 1918. After the war, Wainwright remained in Europe on occupation duty with the 3rd Army at Koblenz, Germany. [5][8]: 27ff 

Inter-war period

Wainwright as a Brigadier General

After a year as an instructor at the Cavalry School at Fort Riley, Wainwright was attached to the general staff from 1921 to 1923 and assigned to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment at Fort Myer, Virginia from 1923–25.[4] His service during the war delayed his professional training. In 1929, he joined the second class at the newly re-established Command and General Staff School in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. On December 29, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, over a decade after he first attained the rank during WWI.[1]: 98 

Wainwright went to the United States Army War College in 1933.[7] His classmates there included Omar Bradley and William Halsey Jr.[8]: 33  During his studies, Wainwright repeatedly focused on War Plan Orange, which was the strategy for combatting the Empire of Japan.[1]: ixff 

Wainwright was promoted to colonel in 1935. He served as commander of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment until 1938, when he was promoted to brigadier general in command of the 1st Cavalry Brigade at Fort Clark, Texas.

In September 1940, Wainwright was assigned to command the Philippine Division, a force of Philippine Scouts led by American officers. On October 1, just after transiting the Panama Canal on his way back to the Philippines, he was notified of his promotion to major general.[10][8]: 11f 

World War II

Combat

Japanese Landings on Bataan 23 January - 1 February 1942.

On 8 December 1941, just hours after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan launched their invasion of the Philippines. When their first bombs started to drop on Clarke Field, Wainwright was at Fort Stotsenburg, where he spent the previous day enjoying a polo match and watching a movie.[11]: 56 [3]: 25ff 

War Plan Orange anticipated the most likely point of attack to be Lingayen Gulf on Luzon.[12]: 56ff  That is precisely where the Japanese established a beachhead on 22 December.[11]: 82  The area was defended by Wainwright's North Luzon Force, consisting of three reserve Filipino divisions and the 26th Cavalry Regiment.[13][14]: 6 

The strategy in War Plan Orange was to create a redoubt on the Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor where the U.S. could defend the entrance to Manila Bay. Instead of withdrawing to a defensive position, MacArthur preferred an offensive strategy. He spread materiel throughout the Philippines in order to attack an invading force. On 23 December, MacArthur reverted to War Plan Orange, charging Wainwright with protecting the retreat to Bataan. MacArthur evacuated his command to Corregidor.[3]: 80ff 

By January 1942, most of the Allied forces had withdrawn to Bataan without sufficient supplies.[15]: 199ff  MacArthur relentlessly lobbied Washington for reinforcements, hoping to go on the offensive. By 27 January, Wainwright's position on Bataan was insecure enough that he requested permission from MacArthur to shorten the front he had to defend.[14]: 66, 78  His men were starving on less than half rations. They slaughtered carabao for meat, and eventually the cavalry had to eat their horses.[3]: 114–23 

On 22 February, President Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to evacuate to Australia to serve as Allied Supreme Commander, South West Pacific Area. MacArthur split the command structure of the Philippines into four sections, leaving Wainwright in charge of Luzon.[1]: 176  Uninformed of the change, the President assumed Wainwright was in charge of all the islands. On March 19, Wainwright was promoted to lieutenant general.[15]: 361ff  A much skinnier Wainwright transferred to Corregidor.[7][16]

General Wainwright and his staff negotiate their surrender with General Homma at Cabcaben, Bataan (6 May 1942).

Major General Edward P. King was left in control on Bataan as the situation grew hopeless. Wainwright warned Washington that the troops would be starved into submission by 15 April. MacArthur insisted they attack the Japanese in order to break out of Bataan. On 8 April, Wainwright gave King a modified version of MacArthur's order, knowing it was an impossible task.[3]: 1573ff  The following day, King surrendered the 72,000 troops under his command, the largest American force ever defeated.[1]: vi 

Japanese General Masaharu Homma was irate King's surrender did not include Corregidor.[1]: 183ff  He spent the next month denuding Corregidor by bomb. Wainwright had no real ability to fight back when Homma's forces landed on 5 May.[17][16]

Hoping to reduce the number of surrendered troops, Wainwright relinquished his command of all but the forces in Manila Bay. Major General William F. Sharp on Mindanao now commanded America's military presence in the Philippines.[8]: 288  Wainwright surrendered at noon on 6 May.[18] War Plan Orange estimated the positions on Bataan and Corregidor could be held for six months at most. Wainwright nearly managed to last that long.[3]: 165ff 

Captivity

U.S. generals in Japanese captivity. Wainwright is in the front row, third from left (July 1942).
Japanese censor forcing Wainwright to speak positively about the conditions of his imprisonment (1 June 1943).

General Homma refused to accept Wainwright's surrender unless it included all of the forces in the Philippines. Having disarmed and fearing a slaughter on Corregidor, Wainwright agreed to order the surrender of all forces under American command.[15]: 564–70  He was taken to Manila and forced to broadcast his order on the radio. Wainwright reclaimed his command and ordered American forces to surrender.[1]: 183ff 

General Sharp consulted with MacArthur on how to proceed. MacArthur felt Wainwright had taken leave of his senses and urged Sharp to fight on. Wainwright sent an officer to Mindinao to make clear Japan would slaughter their prisoners unless Sharp surrendered. He agreed to surrender on 10 May.[16][15]: 575ff  Many of Sharp's Filipino soldiers refused to surrender and joined the guerrilla movement led by Colonel Wendell Fertig.[15]: 576f 

Wainwright was initially held at the University Club in Manila. On 9 June, he was transferred to a converted Philippine Army barracks in Tarlac.[1]: 184ff  He was held there until the following summer. When Americans landed on Guadalcanal, Japan decided to move their high value prisoner north and transferred Wainwright to Karenkō on Formosa. Many other British, Dutch, and American officers were held there, including General Sharp. By the fall of 1942, Wainwright's treatment had devolved into starvation and abuse.[1]: 195ff 

Wainwright's captivity was a national fixation. In 1942, Wainwright was nominated for the Medal of Honor. General MacArthur shocked his superiors by formally opposing the nomination for a variety of reasons, one of which was Wainwright's surrender. Wainwright agonized over his surrender while in prison, repeatedly reevaluating the decision in his diary, where he also documented his plummeting weight.[19][20] Time magazine depicted him behind barbed wire on the cover of the 8 May 1944 issue.[21]

Wainwright was transferred two more times on Formosa, and his treatment improved as the Japanese needed propaganda victories in the face of the Allies' island hopping advances.[3]: 233ff  When America's B-29s were in position to begin bombing Japan, Wainwright was finally moved to camps in Manchuria. He was imprisoned in brutal, freezing conditions at Xi'an until he was freed.[1]: 204ff 

Freedom

MacArthur (left) greets Wainwright at the New Grand Hotel, Yokohama, Japan (August 31, 1945).
Wainwright (second from left) receiving the surrender of Japanese forces in the Philippines at Baguio, Luzon (3 September 1945).

On 19 August, Wainwright's captors informed the prisoners that the war was over. The first allies to reach him were two agents from the Office of Strategic Services who secured his release. The Russian Red Army escorted him from a POW camp in Manchuria on August 24, 1945.[22][3]: 269 

On 31 August, Wainwright reunited with MacArthur at the New Grand Hotel in Yokohama, Japan. MacArthur insisted Wainwright stand behind him during the surrender of Japan aboard the USS Missouri on 2 September. While signing the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, MacArthur paused to give Wainwright one of the pens.[23][24] Wainwright then returned to the Philippines to receive the surrender of local Japanese commander General Tomoyuki Yamashita.[25]

Before he returned to the United States from captivity, Wainwright was inundated with offers for a book deal. He agreed to a $155,000 contract with a publishing syndicate that serialized his memoir before Doubleday published it as a bestselling book.[3]: 290 

During the war, Army Chief of Staff General George Marshall mothballed Wainwright's Medal of Honor nomination to avoid provoking MacArthur. Upon victory, Marshall asked Secretary of War Henry Stimson to review it. Stimson rejected MacArthur's objections as "untrue" and "untenable".[3]: 282ff  President Harry S. Truman surprised General Wainwright with the Medal of Honor during an impromptu ceremony in the White House Rose Garden on 10 September 1945.[3]: 282ff 

Wainwright was promoted to four-star general and named commanding general of the Eastern Defense Command at Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York.[26] On 13 September, he received a ticker-tape parade in New York City.[27]

Post-war years and retirement

General Wainwright's last command was the Fourth Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Lieutenant General Alexander Patch's death opened the position, and Wainwright took it up on 11 January 1946.[28] Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 64, Wainwright reluctantly retired on 31 August 1947.[29]

He became a Freemason in May 1946 at Union Lodge No. 7. in Junction City, Kansas.[30] In 1948, he was elected the national commander of Disabled American Veterans (DAV).[31] He was also a Compatriot of the Empire State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. His membership application for the SAR was endorsed by General Douglas MacArthur.[32]

Wainwright served on the board of directors for several corporations after his retirement. He frequently spoke to veterans' groups. He never publicly voiced any bitterness toward MacArthur for his actions in the Philippines. When it appeared that MacArthur might be nominated for president at the 1948 Republican National Convention, Wainwright stood ready to make the nominating speech.[19]

On 2 September 1953, Wainwright died of a stroke in San Antonio, Texas at age 70.[33]

Wainwright was laid to rest near his parents at Arlington National Cemetery.[34] He was buried with a Masonic service and is one of the few people to have had their funeral held in the lower level of Arlington's Memorial Amphitheater.[35][36] Omar Bradley, George Marshall, and Edward King attended the funeral.[37]

Awards

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
1st row Medal of Honor
2nd row Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal
with oak leaf cluster 		Prisoner of War Medal
(posthumous)
3rd row Philippine Campaign Medal Mexican Border Service Medal World War I Victory Medal
with three campaign clasps
4th row Army of Occupation of Germany Medal American Defense Service Medal
with "Foreign Service" clasp 		Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
with one campaign star
5th row World War II Victory Medal Medal for Valor
(Philippines) 		Philippine Defense Medal
with bronze service star
Unit awards
Presidential Unit Citation
with two oak leaf clusters 		Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization: General, Commanding U.S. Army Forces in the Philippines. Place and date: Philippine Islands, 12 March to 7 May 1942. Entered Service at: Skaneateles, N.Y. Birth: Walla Walla, Wash. G.O. No.: 80, 19 September 1945.

Citation:

Distinguished himself by intrepid and determined leadership against greatly superior enemy forces. At the repeated risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in his position, he frequented the firing line of his troops where his presence provided the example and incentive that helped make the gallant efforts of these men possible. The final stand on beleaguered Corregidor, for which he was in an important measure personally responsible, commanded the admiration of the Nation's allies. It reflected the high morale of American arms in the face of overwhelming odds. His courage and resolution were a vitally needed inspiration to the then sorely pressed freedom-loving peoples of the world.[38]

Other official awards

Private honors

Promotions

No pin insignia in 1906 Second Lieutenant, Regular Army: 12 June 1906
First Lieutenant, Regular Army: 30 July 1912
Captain, Regular Army: 1 July 1916
Major, National Army: 5 August 1917
Lieutenant Colonel, National Army: 16 October 1918
Major, Regular Army: 1 July 1920
Lieutenant Colonel, Regular Army: 2 December 1929
Colonel, Regular Army: 1 August 1935
Brigadier General, Regular Army: 1 November 1938
Major General, Army of the United States: 1 October 1940
Lieutenant General, Army of the United States: 19 March 1942
Major General, Regular Army: 31 March 1943
General, Army of the United States: 5 September 1945
General, Retired List: 31 August 1947

[39]

Namesakes

Historical marker installed by the Philippines' National Historical Institute in 1977 in the town of Mariveles, Bataan, to commemorate Wainwright's surrender to Homma

*Wainwright Hall at Ft. Myer, Virginia, the former Officers' Club in named in honor of Wainwright.[40]

Film

In the 1977 film MacArthur, General Wainwright is portrayed by Sandy Kenyon.[45]

Works

  • Wainwright, Jonathan M.; Robert Considine (1986) [1945]. General Wainwright's Story. New York: Bantam. ISBN 0-553-24061-7.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Comello, Jerome J. Jonathan M. Wainwright: Planning and Executing the Defense of the Philippines. Temple University, 1999.
  2. ^ "Deaths: J. Mayhew Wainwright". The Living Church. Milwaukee, WI: Morehouse-Gorham Co.: 22 17 June 1945.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Horn, Jonathan. The Fate of the Generals: MacArthur, Wainwright, and the Epic Battle for the Philippines. e-book. Scribner, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Wainwright, Peter (1997). "Remembering the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Their Commanding General, Jonathan M. Wainwright, IV, and his Weapons" (PDF). American Society of Arms Collectors. 76.3 (Spring).
  5. ^ a b Long, Trish (13 December 1945). "1945: Old Friends to Greet Gen. Jonathan M.Wainwright". El Paso Times. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  6. ^ Kingseed, Cole Christian (2006). Old Glory Stories: American Combat Leadership in World War II. Naval Institute Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-1591144403. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  7. ^ a b c "Fort Leavenworth Hall of Fame World Wars I and II". Combined Arms Research Library. 29 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ a b c d e Schultz, Duane P. Hero of Bataan: The Story of General Jonathan M. Wainwright. United States, St Martin's Press, 1981.
  9. ^ "Wainwright, General Jonathan Mayhew, IV (1883–1953)". www.historylink.org. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  10. ^ Robertson, Rickey (November 2016). "General Wainwright Comes to Louisiana". www.sfasu.edu. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  11. ^ a b Cave, Dorothy. Beyond Courage: One Regiment Against Japan, 1941-1945. Yucca Tree Press, 1992.
  12. ^ Miller, Edward S. War Plan Orange: The U.S. Strategy to Defeat Japan, 1897–1945. United States Naval Institute Press, 1991.
  13. ^ Niehorster, Leo. "North Luzon Force, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East". Order of Battle, 8 December 1941. Niehorster.org. Accessed 20 December 2025.
  14. ^ a b Beck, John Jacob. MacArthur and Wainwright: Sacrifice of the Philippines. University of New Mexico Press, 1974.
  15. ^ a b c d e Morton, Louis. The Fall of the Philippines. 2016 update. Washington: Center of Military History, United States Army, 1953.
  16. ^ a b c Klimow, Mathew (December 1990). "Lying to the Troops: American Leaders and the Defense of Bataan" (PDF). Parameters Quarterly.
  17. ^ Tyler, Floyd E (1967). How Far That Little Candle... Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Midwest Beach, Inc. p. 15.
  18. ^ Hearn, Chester G. Marines. Zenith Press, 2007. 64.
  19. ^ a b Murphy, Edward F. Heroes of WW II. Ballantine Books, 1990. 32ff.
  20. ^ Sterner, C. Douglas. "Family Feud – A Tale of Two Generals". Pueblo, Colorado.
  21. ^ Time. 8 May 1944. (Cover).
  22. ^ "Senior U.S. POW is released". History.com. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  23. ^ "Surrender of Japan (1945)". National Archives. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  24. ^ "Witnesses: Percival & Wainwright on V-J Day". The National WWII Museum | New Orleans. 30 August 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Yamashita surrenders". Australian War Memorial. 3 September 1945. Retrieved 23 June 2023. The ceremony was delayed two and a half hours so that Lieutenant-General Jonathan Wainright and Lieutenant-General A E Percival, who surrendered to Yamashita early in the war, could be present.
  26. ^ "Wainwright Named Eastern Defense Head" (PDF). The New York Times. 29 September 1945. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  27. ^ Martin, John (13 September 1945). "City Hails Hero of the Rock Today". The New York Daily News. Oakland, California. UP. pp. C3, C8. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  28. ^ "Wainwright Named Head of Fourth Army Head" (PDF). The New York Times. 12 January 1946. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  29. ^ "Wainwright Takes His Last Review: Hero of Bataan Deeply Moved as He is Retired in Fort Sam Houston Ceremonies" (PDF). The New York Times. 1 September 1947. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  30. ^ Wainwright, General Jonanthan (4 September 2010). "Grand Lodge of Kansas-Masons". Masons of Kansas. kansasmasons.org. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  31. ^ "DAV History Annex" (PDF). DAV. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  32. ^ The Sons of the American Revolution Magazine. Sons of the American Revolution, 1946. 73.
  33. ^ "Wainwright In Semi-Coma. War Hero Suffers 2d Stroke in San Antonio Hospital". The New York Times. 2 September 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  34. ^ "Jonathan M. Wainwright". www.arlingtoncemetery.mil. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  35. ^ "Service for Wainwright. Cavalryman's Rites in Texas to Precede Arlington Burial". The New York Times. 4 September 1953. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  36. ^ Peters, James Edward. Arlington National Cemetery, Shrine to America's Heroes. Woodbine House, 2000. 244f.
  37. ^ "Wainwright Buried With High Tribute". Los Angeles Times. Washington. AP. 9 September 1953. p. 16. Retrieved 2 August 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "Medal of Honor recipients World War II (T–Z)". United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 31 December 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2009.
  39. ^ Official Army Register. Department of the Army. 1 January 1948. Vol. 2. pg. 2481.
  40. ^ "Quarters Six" (PDF). Joint Chiefs of Staff. p. 28. Retrieved 23 June 2025. Mule-drawn mower in front of the Officers' Club and bachelor officers' quarters at Fort Myer, Va. Built in 1896, the facility was later renamed Wainwright Hall, in honor of General Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, who commanded the 3rd Cavalry from 1923 to 1925.
  41. ^ "U.S. Army Recruiting Command Brigade and Battalion Public Affairs Offices" (PDF). Recruiting Command. U.S. Army. 16 March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2004. Retrieved 9 September 2009.
  42. ^ "Corregidor Island - Memorial Park: General Jonathan M. Wainwright Monument". American War Memorials Overseas, Inc. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  43. ^ "Photos and Floor Plans". Directorate of Public Works, Fort Hood, Texas. United States Army. Archived from the original on 18 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
    Lozano, Madison (12 January 2014). "Fort Hood Housing". Killeen Daily Herald. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  44. ^ "School Information / About Wainwright". Wainwright Elementary. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  45. ^ Gerard Molyneaux (1995). Gregory Peck: A Bio-bibliography. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 184. ISBN 978-0-313-28668-1.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Jonathan M. Wainwright (general).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jonathan M. Wainwright IV.
  • A film clip of a September 10, 1945 Newsreel – "Nation Welcomes Hero Of Corregidor" is available for viewing at the Internet Archive
  • General Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV letter to Soldiers being dischanged following World War II at the Internet Archive
  • Arlington National Cemetery
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