18 Facts About Oscar Griswold

Lieutenant General Oscar Woolverton Griswold was a United States Army officer who served in the first half of the 20th century.

Oscar Griswold is best known for his command of the XIV Corps in the South Pacific Area and South West Pacific Area during World War II.

Oscar Woolverton Griswold was born on 22 October 1886 in Ruby Valley, Nevada, son of William Griswold, a prominent Elko County rancher.

Oscar Griswold was assigned to the USMA from 1921 to 1924.

Oscar Griswold graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1925, graduating 189th in the class of 258, and the United States Army War College in 1929.

From 1929 to 1931 Oscar Griswold served with the War Department General Staff.

Oscar Griswold served as a member of the Infantry Board from 1932 to 1936, and from 1936 to 1939 was assigned to the Office, Chief of Infantry.

Oscar Griswold commanded the 29th Infantry Regiment from September 1939 to October 1940.

Oscar Griswold was promoted to brigadier general in October 1940 and became Commanding General of the Infantry Replacement Training Center at Camp Croft.

From April 1943, Oscar Griswold was Commanding General of the XIV Corps, which fought in New Georgia, Bougainville and in the Philippines.

Oscar Griswold was promoted to lieutenant general in early 1945, and continued to serve in the Pacific theater under Douglas MacArthur during the Battle of Manila in February 1945.

Oscar Griswold was the top ground commander only under MacArthur and Krueger during that battle, which was the largest urban warfare American troops ever participated in up to that point; Oscar Griswold's XIV Corps, in their bitter and bloody fight for Manila, consisted of the 1st Cavalry Division, the 37th Infantry Division, and the 11th Airborne Division.

In October 1947, Oscar Griswold retired to The Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and resided in the Broadmoor Stadium Apartments.

In 1954, Oscar Griswold helped to bring the new United States Air Force Academy to Colorado Springs.

Oscar Griswold appeared in a television segment of This Is Your Life in December 1956 where he lauded the exploits of an army captain who refused to surrender in the Philippines and successfully led a guerilla campaign against the Japanese until he turned himself in to General Griswold.

Oscar Griswold remained employed by the Broadmoor until health problems caused him to retire.

Oscar Griswold died on 28 September 1959 at his home in Colorado Springs.

Oscar Griswold was buried along with his wife Elizabeth Katherine Griswold at the West Point Cemetery.