Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Roy
Stanley
Geiger
January 25, 1885

–

January 23, 1947

Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery

Roy Geiger entered military service in the Marine Corps in 1909 after graduating from Florida State Normal followed by an LLB from Stetson University. In 1916 he became a Naval Aviator, serving throughout World War II. He retired as a U.S. Marine Corps General and was posthumously promoted to four-star rank by the 80th Congress to be effective from 23 January 1947.

Awards Received

  • Navy Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Major General

    Division:

    III Marine Amphibious Corps

    Action Date:

    April 1945

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Roy Stanley Geiger (MCSN: 0-332), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious service to the Government of the United States in a duty of great responsibility while serving in the highly responsible position of Commanding General, III Amphibious Corps, supervised the planning for his corps’ participation in the invasion of Okinawa and led his well-integrated force throughout the struggle for the Ryukyu Islands stronghold. Going ashore with the early landing elements on 1 April 1945, he began a bitter, three-month campaign by skillfully coordinating the initial drive of the First Marine Division across the island with the swift advance of the Sixth Marine Division to the north. Subsequently, he employed both divisions on the southern front against desperate, fanatic resistance. With outstanding professional skill, forceful leadership and unswerving determination, he directed his units, blending their effort with that of the entire task force, repeatedly disregarding personal safety to secure a first-hand estimate of the battle situation and inspiring his men to heights of bravery and accomplishment. Through his exceptional performance, General Geiger was in large measure responsible for the success of the operation which secured a tremendously important base on the doorstep of the Japanese home islands.

  • Navy Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Major General

    Division:

    III Marine Amphibious Corps

    Action Date:

    Summer 1944

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Roy Stanley Geiger (MCSN: 0-332), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious service to the Government of the United States in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General of the THIRD Amphibious Corps and of the Southern Troops and Landing Force in preparation for and during the campaign against the Mariana Islands and in the capture of Guam Island in the Summer of 1944. Working tirelessly and with sound judgment and splendid initiative, Major General Geiger successfully welded into a superb amphibious assault team the Third Marine Division, Reinforced the First Provisional Marine Brigade, and the Corps Troops and Artillery, Immediately following the assault landings, he effectively combined the Seventy-Seventh Army Division with the Southern Landing Force, subsequently directing the combat operations of this powerful force in the vital task of seizing important beachheads, capturing the harbor and surrounding heights and ultimately overwhelming the remaining island defenses. Major General Geiger’s forceful leadership, brilliant tactical skill and distinguished service in the achievement of a strategically important mission were an inspiration to his gallant command and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Navy Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Major General

    Division:

    I Marine Amphibious Corps

    Action Date:

    November 9 – December 15, 1943

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Roy Stanley Geiger (MCSN: 0-332), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service to the Government of the United States in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General of the FIRST Marine Amphibious Corps during operations on Bougainville Island, British Solomon Islands, from 9 November 9 1943 to 15 December 1943. Undeterred by formidable problems of logistics due to extremely difficult terrain and dense jungle, and despite unfavorable weather, unhealthful climate and fierce enemy resistance, Major General Geiger successfully seized and held an important position on the west coast of Bougainville, extending it for the construction of airfields vitally necessary to further operations in the Solomons. Due to his brilliant leadership, personal courage and complete understanding of the task, the units under Major General Geiger’s command contributed directly to the neutralization of determined enemy forces in this area and to the acquisition of a strategically important position for future Allied operations. The skillful planning and daring tactical generalship displayed by Major General Geiger throughout this hazardous operation reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Major General

    Division:

    Aviation Units (Guadalcanal)

    Action Date:

    September 3 – November 4, 1942
    SPOT AWARD (November 9, 1942)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Major General Roy Stanley Geiger (MCSN: 0-332), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as Commanding Officer, Aviation Units (Guadalcanal), during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands from 3 September 1942 to 4 November 1942. 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 286 Japanese planes in aerial combat and inflicting damage on a number estimated to be great. Aerial attacks launched under his direction destroyed 23 additional aircraft on the ground or water, sank six enemy vessels including one heavy cruiser and five light cruisers. Directing operations under hazardous conditions frequently imperiling his own life, Major General Geiger, by his tenacious fortitude and unerring devotion to duty, served as an inspiration to all the officers and men under his command.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    Airplane Squadron No. 2

    Regiment:

    First Marine Aviation Force

    Division:

    Northern Bombing Group (USN)

    Action Date:

    World War I

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Roy Stanley Geiger (MCSN: 0-332), United States Marine Corps, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of Airplane Squadron No. 2, 1st Marine Aviation Force, attached to the Northern Bomb Group (USN), in which capacity he trained and led this Squadron on bombing raids against the enemy. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Major General

    Action Date:

    World War II

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major General Roy Stanley Geiger (MCSN: 0-332), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during World War II.

  • Army Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Major General

    Division:

    III Marine Amphibious Corps

    Action Date:

    September 1944
    War Department, General Orders No. 80 (1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Roy Stanley Geiger (MCSN: 0-332), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious service to the Government of the United States in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General of the Third Amphibious Corps, in action against enemy Japanese forces prior to and during the seizure of the Southern Palau Islands in September 1944. Inculcating in the officers and men of his divisions his own indomitable spirit of aggressiveness, Major General Geiger united the FIRST Marine Division, the 81st -Army Division and Corps Troops into a formidable fighting command, directing their final training and rehearsals for 4 the assaults on Peleliu, Angaur and Ngesebus with expedient skill and efficiency. A bold tactician, he landed his forces in defiance of the continuous, shattering bombardment laid down by enemy guns strategically concealed in commanding positions and pushed his relentless advance yard by yard through the difficult and dangerous terrain. Fighting furiously and without respite toward his objectives, he drove the Japanese garrisons from their intricate system of defenses with inexorable determination until he had succeeded in crushing the fanatic opposition of a desperate and ruthless enemy despite heavy corps casualties. Repeatedly disregarding his own personal safety, Major -General Geiger kept himself fully appraised of both the enemy situation and that of his own troops, frequently traversing his front lines under merciless blasts of artillery and mortar fire and, by his undaunted valor, tenacious perseverance and staunch leadership in the face of tremendous odds, constantly inspired his stouthearted Marines and soldiers to heroic effort during the most critical phases of the fierce battle. His resolute fortitude and decisive conduct throughout the entire Palau Campaign reflect the highest credit upon Major General Geiger, his gallant command and the United States Naval Service.