Roy Stanley Geiger Biography

Roy Stanley Geiger was born on 25 January 1885 in Middleburg, Florida. He attended Florida State Normal and attained a law degree from Stetson University before signing up for the Marine Corps.

Geiger entered the Marine Corps as an enlisted man in 1907 and was sent to Naval Station Norfolk for his training. Geiger spent most of his enlisted time at the Marine Barracks in Washington DC and was promoted to corporal on 2 June 1908.

Two years later he received his commission as second lieutenant and served with Marine detachments on board the USS Wisconsin and USS Delaware. In August 1912, he was assigned to foreign shore duty in Nicaragua followed by duty in the Philippines and China.

He started to learn to fly in March 1916 and passed the course in June 1917, becoming the Marine Corps' fifth pilot. Near the close of World War I, Geiger arrived in France, working with the Royal Air Force at Dunkerque.

He led a squadron of the First Marine Aviation Force on bombing raids over France and Germany, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross.

Between the wars, Geiger proceeded through the ranks, progressing in the seniority of his commands. On the eve of Pearl Harbour, Geiger was Commanding General, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force stationed at Guadalcanal.

Under his command the unit shot down 268 Japanese planes, sank six enemy boats, including a heavy cruiser and three destroyers and damaged 18 other ships.

In 1943, the general was given command of the 1st Amphibious Corps, charged with recapturing Guam, and the southern Palau Islands. For these assaults, he was awarded two Gold Stars.

At the end of the Second World War, Geiger was Commanding General of the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.

He died on 23 January 1947 at the National Naval Medical Centre in Maryland and was buried in Arlington Cemetery.

Geiger was promoted to four-star rank, which earned him the title General, posthumously by the 80thCongress to be effective from the day of his death.

As well as the Naval Cross and two Gold Stars, Geiger won the Distinguished Service Medal (Army), Presidential Unit Citation for his work at Guadalcanal in 1942 and a World War II Victory Medal.