Jonathan M. Wainwright (general)

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Jonathan M. Wainwright
Wainwright after World War II and promotion to full General
Birth name	Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV
Nickname(s)	"Skinny", "Jim"
Born	(1883-08-23)23 August 1883 Walla Walla, Washington, U.S.
Died	2 September 1953(1953-09-02) (aged 70) San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1906–47
Rank	General
Commands	3rd Cavalry Regiment (United States) 1936–38 1st Cavalry Brigade 1938–40 Philippine Division 1940–42 Prisoner of war 1942–45 Second Service Command 1945–46 Eastern Defense Command 1945–46 Fourth Army 1946–47
Battles / wars	Philippine–American War Moro Rebellion World War I Battle of Saint-Mihiel Meuse-Argonne Offensive World War II Philippines campaign (1941–42) Battle of Bataan Battle of Corregidor
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 (23 August 1883 – 2 September 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 5 September 1945, shortly after the Japanese surrender, Wainwright was promoted to four-star General.