Geiger, Roy

Geiger, Roy (1885–1947) U.S. Marine Corps general A native of Middleburg, Florida, Geiger graduated from John B. Stetson University in 1907 and practiced law for less than a year before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) in November 1907. In less than two years, he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant, then was promoted to 1st lieutenant in 1915 after having served at sea and in the Caribbean, the Philippines, and China. In 1917, Geiger was promoted to captain and became the fifth USMC officer to complete aviator training. After the United States entered World War I, Geiger, now a major, commanded a squadron of the 1st Marine Aviation Force in France. After World War I, Geiger served in Haiti as commanding officer of the 1st Aviation Group, 3rd Marine Brigade, from 1919 to 1921. He was transferred to Quantico, Virginia, in 1921 and graduated from the army's Command and General Staff School in 1925. In 1929, he graduated from the Army War College. From 1929 to 1931, he commanded Aircraft Squadrons, East Coast Expeditionary Force, stationed at Quantico, then was made officer in charge of aviation at Marine Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C., serving there from 1931 to 1935. Promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1934, Geiger commanded Marine Air Group One, 1st Marine Brigade, from 1935 to 1939, when he was sent to the Navy War College. Following graduation in 1941, he was promoted to brigadier general and given command of the 1st Marine Air Wing, Fleet Marine Force, in September. After the Battle of Pearl Harbor and U.S. entry into World War II, Geiger assumed command of the air wing on Guadalcanal as soon as the island was captured from the Japanese (September 1942–February 1943). Promoted to major general, Geiger returned to Washington as director of the marine Division of Aviation. He served in this post from May to November 1943, when he succeeded Gen. Alexander Vandegrift as commander of I Amphibious Corps (later redesignated III Amphibious Corps). He led this corps in the retaking of Guam, in the Mariana Islands Campaign, from July 21 to August 10, 1944, then commanded at the Battle of Peleliu from September 15 to November 25. Geiger next took part in the Okinawa Campaign (April 1–June 18, 1945), beginning with the landing. Geiger's corps was attached to the Tenth U.S. Army, commanded by General Simon B. Buckner. After Buckner was killed in battle, Geiger assumed command of the Tenth Army until the arrival of General Joseph A. Stilwell on June 23. Geiger's brief tenure was the only occasion on which a USMC officer commanded a U.S. field army. In July 1945, Geiger was named to command Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. His next command came after the war, in November 1946, when he was assigned to a post in Washington. Geiger fell ill a few months after his arrival in Washington, however, and died the next year. A grateful Congress posthumously awarded him the honorary rank of general in July 1947.