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Jonathan M. Wainwright | |
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![]() Wainwright after World War II and promotion to full General | |
Birth name | Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV |
Nickname(s) | "Skinny", "Jim" |
Born | Walla Walla, Washington, U.S. | August 23, 1883
Died | September 2, 1953 San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | (aged 70)
Place of burial | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1906–47 |
Rank | General |
Commands | 3rd Cavalry Regiment (United States) 1936–38 1st Cavalry Brigade 1938–40 |
Battles/wars | Philippine–American War |
Awards | Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal Medal of Valor |
Relations | Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright I (great-grandfather) Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II (grandfather) |
Signature | ![]() |
Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV (August 23, 1883 – September 2, 1953) was an American army general and the Commander of Allied forces in the Philippines at the time Japan surrendered to the United States, 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 for his courageous leadership. In May 1942, on the island stronghold of Corregidor, lacking food, supplies and ammunition, in the interest of minimizing casualties Wainwright surrendered the remaining Allied forces on the Philippines. At the time of his capture, Wainwright was the highest-ranking American prisoner of war, spending three years in Japanese prison camps, during which he suffered from malnutrition and mistreatment. In August 1945, he was rescued by the Red Army in Manchukuo. Hailed as a hero upon his liberation, on September 5, 1945, shortly after the Japanese surrender, Wainwright was promoted to four-star General.