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Roy Stanley Geiger
January 25, 1885 – January 23, 1947

Roy S. Geiger
Nickname "Jiggs"[1]
Place of birth Middleburg, Florida
Place of death Bethesda, Maryland[2]
Allegiance United States of America
Years of service 1909-1947
Rank General
Commands held Aircraft Squadrons, East Coast Expeditionary Force
1st Marine Aircraft Wing

Battle of Guam
U. Bethesda is an Unincorporated area in southern Montgomery County Maryland, just Northwest of Washington D The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps and are headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the island of The Battle of Guam ( July 21 - August 8 1944) was the American capture of the Japanese held island of Guam (in the S. Tenth Army
Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
Battles/wars World War I
Banana Wars
Haiti
World War II
*Battle of Bougainville
*Battle of Okinawa
Awards Navy Cross (2)
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Army Distinguished Service Medal

General Roy Stanley Geiger (January 25, 1885–January 23, 1947) was a United States Marine Corps general who, during World War II, became the first Marine to lead an army. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All For the 1974-1975 Banana war against US monopolies and Central American countries see Union of Banana Exporting Countries. The first United States occupation of Haiti began on July 28 1915 and ended in mid-August 1934 World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Battle of Okinawa, also known as Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for valor. The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919 This article concerns the United States Army Distinguished Service Medal Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate Year 1885 ( MDCCCLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

Geiger commanded the III Amphibious Corps in the Battle of Okinawa, where he assumed command of the U.S. Tenth Army upon the combat death of Lt. The III Marine Expeditionary Force, is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps that is forward-deployed and able to deploy rapidly and The Battle of Okinawa, also known as Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault The Tenth United States Army was the last army level command established in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Commanding General of the Tenth Army. General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr ( July 18, 1886 – June 18, 1945) was an American general during World War Geiger led the Tenth Army until relieved by General Joseph Stilwell. General Joseph Warren Stilwell ( March 19, 1883 – October 12, 1946) was a United States Army four-star General

For his part in this action he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. This article concerns the United States Army Distinguished Service Medal His citation reads in part, "Going ashore with the early landing elements on 1 April 1945, he began a bitter three-month campaign . . . with outstanding professional skill, forceful leadership and unswerving determination, he directed his units . . . repeatedly disregarding personal safety to secure a first hand estimate of the battle situation and inspiring his men to heights of bravery and accomplishment. "

Contents

Early life and career

Geiger was born in Middleburg, Florida. Middleburg is a Census-designated place and an unincorporated town in Clay County, Florida, United States. He attended Florida State Normal and Industrial College and received an LLB from Stetson University. The Bachelor of Laws (abbreviated LLB, LLB or rarely LlB) is an undergraduate or bachelor degree in law offered in most Common law Stetson University is an independent private co-educational liberal arts University that consistently earns high rankings in national college guides He enlisted in the Marine Corps as a Private on November 2, 1907 in St. Paul, Minnesota and was sent to Naval Station Norfolk for his initial training. Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 1907 ( MCMVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Saint Paul ( abbreviated St Paul) is the capital and second most populous city in the U Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Geiger spent most of his enlisted time at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. where he was also promoted to Corporal on June 2, 1908. Marine Barracks Washington DC is located at 8th and I Streets SE in Washington D Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Following a series of professional examinations and the passing of a Naval Medical Board he accepted his commission as a Second Lieutenant on February 5, 1909. Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned officer Military rank in many Armed forces. Events 1576 - Henry of Navarre converts to Roman Catholicism in order to ensure his right to the throne of France. Year 1909 ( MCMIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting [3]

Following attendance at the Marine Officers' School at Port Royal, South Carolina, he served as a member of the Marine detachments aboard Wisconsin (BB-9) and Delaware (BB-28). Port Royal is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. In August 1912, he was assigned to Nicaragua, where he participated in the bombardment, assault and capture of the hills called Coyotepe and Barranca. Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America Further foreign shore duty followed in the Philippines and China with the First Brigade and with the Marine Detachment, American Legation, Peking, China, from 1913 to 1916. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National

In March 1916, Geiger joined Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, as a student naval aviator. Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola, "The Cradle of Naval Aviation" is a United States Navy base located in Warrington, Florida Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the A United States Naval Aviator is a pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard. He successfully completed the course and was designated a naval aviator in June 1917.

World War I

Further training followed and in July 1918, he arrived in France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. He served with 5 Group, Royal Air Force at Dunkirk. No 5 Group (Motto "Undaunted") was a Royal Air Force bomber group of the Second World War, led during the latter part (February 1943 Dunkirk ( French: Dunkerque, dœ̃kɛʀk or; Dutch:; is a harbour city and a commune in the northernmost part of France, in the He commanded a squadron of the First Marine Aviation Force and was attached to the Day Wing, Northern Bombing Group. He was detached to the United States in January 1919. For distinguished service in leading bombing raids against the enemy, he was awarded the Navy Cross. The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for valor.

Development of Marine Corps aviation between the wars

From December 1919 to January 1921, he was a squadron commander with the Marine Aviation Force attached to the First Provisional Brigade in Haiti. Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: Upon return to the United States and after duty at the Marine Flying Field, Marine Barracks, MCB Quantico, Virginia, he attended Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Marine Corps Base Quantico is a major United States Marine Corps training base located near Triangle Virginia, covering nearly 100 square miles in southern Prince The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state The Command and General Staff College ( C&GSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a United States Army facility that functions as a Graduate school Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County Kansas (just north of the city of Leavenworth) in the upper northeast He graduated in June 1925. Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Again he went to foreign shore duty, commanding Observation Squadron Two with the First Brigade in Haiti.

In August 1927, he returned to Quantico as a squadron officer and instructor at the Marine Corps Schools, and in May 1928, was assigned to duty in the Aviation Section, Division of Operations and Training, at Marine Corps Headquarters. After attending the U.S. Army War College and graduating in June 1929, he was ordered to Quantico, where he was assigned duty as Commanding Officer, Aircraft Squadrons, East Coast Expeditionary Force. The United States Army War College is a United States Army school located in Carlisle Pennsylvania, on the 500 acre (2 km² campus of the historic Carlisle He returned to Washington for duty with Aeronautics, Navy Department as Officer in Charge, Marine Corps Aviation.

In June 1935, he returned to Quantico as Commanding Officer, Aircraft One, Fleet Marine Force. The Fleet Marine Force (FMF is a combined command of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which comprises a combination of permanent afloat personnel From June 1939 to March 1941, he was a student at the Senior and the Advanced Courses, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. The Naval War College (NWC is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for Naval warfare and passing them Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about 30 miles (48 km south of Providence This was followed with a brief tour of duty in the Office of the Naval Attache, London. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.

World War II

In August 1941, he became Commanding General, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force, in which capacity he was found upon this country's entry into World War II. The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps and are headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the island of

He led the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (known as the Cactus Air Force) from 3 September to 4 November 1942, while stationed at Guadalcanal. Cactus Air Force refers to the ensemble allied air power assigned to the island of Guadalcanal from August 1942 until December 1942 during the early stages of the Guadalcanal Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Guadalcanal (local name Isatabu) is a 2510- Square mile (6500- km²) Island in the Pacific Ocean and a province of the Solomon For extraordinary heroism in this capacity as well as commander of all aircraft, he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross. His citation reads in part, "Despite almost continuous bombardment by enemy aircraft, hostile naval gunfire and shore based artillery, the combined total of Army, Navy and Marine Corps units stationed at Guadalcanal under Major General Geiger's efficiently coordinated command succeeded in shooting down 268 Japanese planes in aerial combat and inflicting damage on a number estimated to be as great…Sank six enemy vessels, including one heavy cruiser, possibly sank three destroyers and one heavy cruiser, and damaged 18 other ships, including one heavy cruiser and five light cruisers. The heavy cruiser was a type of Cruiser, a naval Warship designed for long range high speed and an armament of naval guns roughly 8in in calibre In naval terminology a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance Warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, Convoy A light cruiser is a Warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light Armoured cruiser " describing a small ship that carried armour in the same way "

MajGen Roy S. Geiger (left), Marine III Amphibious Corps Commander, En route to Guam on board the command ship USS Appalachian.
MajGen Roy S. Geiger (left), Marine III Amphibious Corps Commander, En route to Guam on board the command ship USS Appalachian.

He was recalled to Marine Corps Headquarters in May 1943, to become Director of Aviation. In November 1943, he returned to the field, this time as Commanding General of the I Amphibious Corps and led the Corps from 9 November to 15 December 1943, in the Battle of Bougainville, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Events 694 - Egica, a king of the Visigoths of Hispania, accuses Jews of aiding Muslims sentencing all Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919

Redesignated III Amphibious Corps in April 1944, he led this organization in the invasion and subsequent recapture of Guam during July and August 1944, and in the assault and capture of the southern Palau Islands in September and October of the same year. The Battle of Guam ( July 21 - August 8 1944) was the American capture of the Japanese held island of Guam (in the Palau, officially the Republic of Palau (Beluu er a Belau is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, some 500 miles (800  km) east For those operations he was awarded two Gold Award stars in lieu of a second and third Distinguished Service Medal. An award star is a decoration issued by the United States military in lieu of multiple awards of the same award for example a second and subsequent Legion of Merit

Geiger led this Corps into action for the fourth time as part of the Tenth Army in the invasion and capture of Okinawa. is one of Japan 's southern prefectures, and consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1000 km long which extends southwest from Kyūshū In July 1945, he assumed duties as Commanding General of the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, which position he held until called back to Headquarters Marine Corps in November 1946. The Fleet Marine Force (FMF is a combined command of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which comprises a combination of permanent afloat personnel

Awards and decorations

His decorations and medals include

Retirement

Promotion to four-star rank

Geiger was promoted to four-star general posthumously by the 80th Congress to be effective from 23 January 1947. In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star General officer rank Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Legacy

General Geiger is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States, established during the American Civil War [4][5]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Hubler and De Chant, 1944, p. 51.
  2. ^ Willock Unaccustomed to Fear, p. 315
  3. ^ Willock Unaccustomed to Fear, p. 33-42.
  4. ^ Roy Geiger. Find-A-Grave.
  5. ^ "Roy Stanley Geiger", Arlington National Cemetery.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps. The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone
Find A Grave is a Website allowing its users to access maintain and expand an online Database of Burial records 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1340 - King Edward III of England is declared King of France.
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