General Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 7, 1942 in Philippine Islands during World War II. At the time he was serving with U.S. Army. Wainwright was 58 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 10, 1945, 3 years after the action.
Wainwright was born on August 23, 1883 in Fort Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington. His Medal of Honor is credited to Skaneateles, Onondaga County, New York. Wainwright died on September 2, 1953 in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 70. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Wainwright is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor 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.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
How he died
- Manner of death: natural causes
- Cause of death: stroke
- Age at death: 70
- Resting place: Arlington National Cemetery
Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Result: Allied victory; End of World War I
6 Medal of Honor recipients
1918 · World War IBattle of Saint-Mihiel
Result: Allied victory
6 Medal of Honor recipients
Also served in: World War I, World War II, Battle of Corregidor.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: United States Military Academy, United States Army War College, United States Army Command and General Staff College
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- August 23, 1883Born in Fort Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington
- May 7, 1942Act of valor — Philippine IslandsAge 58. U.S. Army
- September 10, 1945Medal of Honor presented
- September 2, 1953Died in San Antonio, TexasAge 70.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
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.
From the Wikipedia article “Jonathan M. Wainwright (general)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
