Winfield S. Cunningham
Encyclopedia
Winfield Scott Cunningham (February 16, 1900 – March 3, 1986) was the Officer in Charge, Naval Activities, Wake Island
when the tiny island was attacked by the Japanese
on December 8, 1941. Cunningham commanded the defense of the island against the massive Japanese attack. After 26 days, the island was surrendered to the Japanese. Cunningham was taken prisoner and held as a POW
in Japan. He was awarded the Navy Cross
for his leadership at Wake Island
.
, Wisconsin
. He was the son of Frederick Michael and Ruth Ella (Moore) Cunningham. Cunningham attended high school at Camp Douglas
. In 1916, at the age of 16 and after completing his junior year in high school, he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
. Because of World War I
, his Class of 1920 was graduated early — on June 6, 1919. Cunningham was commissioned an Ensign and his first assignment was on the naval transport USS Martha Washington, which brought troops home from France. He would then spend the next two years on ships off the coast of Turkey. In January 1922, aboard the USS Huron, he sailed for China where he would spend the next year and a half. Returning to the U.S., on May 3, 1923, he was promoted to Lieutenant (jg), with his promotion backdated to June 7, 1922.
While serving in China, Cunningham applied to enter aviation
training. Though turned down in this first request, he put in requests several times and was finally accepted in 1924. On February 14, 1925, he reported as a Student Naval Aviator to Naval Air Station Pensacola
, Florida
. While in training he was promoted to Lieutenant on June 7, 1925, and was designated a naval aviator
on September 11, 1925. He became a pilot — flying both fighters and flying boats.
, reported for duty as Officer in Charge, All Naval Activities, Wake Island. His command briefing gave top priority to completing the naval air station, over any attention to improving the island's defenses.
On December 8, 1941, news of the attack on Pearl Harbor
reached Wake Island at 07:00, less than 2-1/2 hours after the Japanese struck. Cunningham ordered all personnel to battle stations; at the same time Major James Devereux
, commanding officer of the Wake Detachment of the 1st Marine Defense Battalion, ordered a "Call to Arms". Cunningham recalled the Philippine Clipper (Martin 130 flying boat) and set in motion plans for a scouting patrol. It was to take off at 13:00. However, a bombing attack by the Japanese began at 1157. The bombing continued for days. On December 11, Japanese warships approached the Island.
CDR Cunningham ordered The Marine Commander Major James Devereux to hold their fire until the ships were in easy range. The small U.S. force on the island repulsed the initial landing attempt, but they were in serious need of additional supplies and support — including gunsights, spare parts and fire-control radar — which Cunningham requested from the Commandant, 14th Naval District. But no reinforcements were to come.
Wake remained under attack by the Japanese. After 15 days, with Japanese marines finally swarming over the island, on December 23, 1941, CDR Cunningham finally gave the order for surrender. Cunningham, along with surviving personnel and contractors, were taken captive.
Despite claims that Cunningham directed the defense of the island, a number of the enlisted Marines as well as their officers on the island reported that the only time they saw or talked to him was when he would show up to find out how much ammunition had been fired and that in reality, many orders came from Major Devereux instead.
Cunningham and his fellow prisoners were taken aboard the Japanese transport Nitta Maru to Shanghai, China by way of Yokohama, Japan. Treatment was harsh — five POWs were executed onboard, and some of the imprisoned contractors left on Wake were later executed. Twice during his captivity, Cunningham attempted to escape and was later recaptured by the Japanese. During his captivity, he lost over 70 pounds. On August 18, 1945, after 1330 days of confinement, the Japanese prison commander announced the end of the war.
On August 24, 1945, Winfield left China aboard a U.S. Army aircraft. He finally arrived in the U.S. on September 4, 1945, the same day Wake Island was formally surrendered by the Japanese.
in Bethesda, Maryland
. He was found fit to return to duty. On December 4, 1945, he received notice of his promotion to Captain, effective June 20, 1942. In January 1946, he began a period of retraining, beginning with refresher aviation training at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.
In May 1946, Captain Cunningham returned to sea duty as the Commanding Officer of the USS Curtiss (AV-4)
. Cunningham's final duty was as Commanding Officer, Naval Technical Training Center, Memphis, Tennessee from June 23, 1947 until his retirement on June 30, 1950 at the rank of Rear Admiral
.
. He wrote a book, Wake Island Command (1961), about the historic battle. He died on March 3, 1986 at age 86 and was buried in the Memphis National Cemetery
.
Wake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
when the tiny island was attacked by the Japanese
Battle of Wake Island
The Battle of Wake Island began simultaneously with the Attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on 23 December 1941, with the surrender of the American forces to the Empire of Japan...
on December 8, 1941. Cunningham commanded the defense of the island against the massive Japanese attack. After 26 days, the island was surrendered to the Japanese. Cunningham was taken prisoner and held as a POW
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in Japan. He was awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for his leadership at Wake Island
Wake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
.
Biography
Winfield Cunningham was born on February 16, 1900 in RockbridgeRockbridge, Wisconsin
Rockbridge is a town in Richland County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 721 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Rockbridge and Buck Creek are located in the town.-Geography:...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. He was the son of Frederick Michael and Ruth Ella (Moore) Cunningham. Cunningham attended high school at Camp Douglas
Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
Camp Douglas is a village in Juneau County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 592 at the 2000 census. Camp Douglas is home to Volk Field Air National Guard Base.-History:...
. In 1916, at the age of 16 and after completing his junior year in high school, he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. Because of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, his Class of 1920 was graduated early — on June 6, 1919. Cunningham was commissioned an Ensign and his first assignment was on the naval transport USS Martha Washington, which brought troops home from France. He would then spend the next two years on ships off the coast of Turkey. In January 1922, aboard the USS Huron, he sailed for China where he would spend the next year and a half. Returning to the U.S., on May 3, 1923, he was promoted to Lieutenant (jg), with his promotion backdated to June 7, 1922.
While serving in China, Cunningham applied to enter aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
training. Though turned down in this first request, he put in requests several times and was finally accepted in 1924. On February 14, 1925, he reported as a Student Naval Aviator to Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. While in training he was promoted to Lieutenant on June 7, 1925, and was designated a naval aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
on September 11, 1925. He became a pilot — flying both fighters and flying boats.
Wake Island
On November 28, 1941, Cunningham, by now a CommanderCommander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
, reported for duty as Officer in Charge, All Naval Activities, Wake Island. His command briefing gave top priority to completing the naval air station, over any attention to improving the island's defenses.
On December 8, 1941, news of the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
reached Wake Island at 07:00, less than 2-1/2 hours after the Japanese struck. Cunningham ordered all personnel to battle stations; at the same time Major James Devereux
James Devereux
James Patrick Sinnott Devereux was a United States Marine Corps general, Navy Cross recipient, and Republican congressman. He was the Commanding Officer of the 1st Defense Battalion during the defense of Wake Island in December 1941. He was captured on Wake Island as a prisoner of war, along with...
, commanding officer of the Wake Detachment of the 1st Marine Defense Battalion, ordered a "Call to Arms". Cunningham recalled the Philippine Clipper (Martin 130 flying boat) and set in motion plans for a scouting patrol. It was to take off at 13:00. However, a bombing attack by the Japanese began at 1157. The bombing continued for days. On December 11, Japanese warships approached the Island.
CDR Cunningham ordered The Marine Commander Major James Devereux to hold their fire until the ships were in easy range. The small U.S. force on the island repulsed the initial landing attempt, but they were in serious need of additional supplies and support — including gunsights, spare parts and fire-control radar — which Cunningham requested from the Commandant, 14th Naval District. But no reinforcements were to come.
Wake remained under attack by the Japanese. After 15 days, with Japanese marines finally swarming over the island, on December 23, 1941, CDR Cunningham finally gave the order for surrender. Cunningham, along with surviving personnel and contractors, were taken captive.
Despite claims that Cunningham directed the defense of the island, a number of the enlisted Marines as well as their officers on the island reported that the only time they saw or talked to him was when he would show up to find out how much ammunition had been fired and that in reality, many orders came from Major Devereux instead.
Prisoner of War
On August 24, 1945, Winfield left China aboard a U.S. Army aircraft. He finally arrived in the U.S. on September 4, 1945, the same day Wake Island was formally surrendered by the Japanese.
Return to the U.S.
On September 10, 1945, Cunningham underwent a complete physical examination at the National Naval Medical CenterNational Naval Medical Center
The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, USA — commonly known as the Bethesda Naval Hospital — was for decades the flagship of the United States Navy's system of medical centers. A federal institution, it conducted medical and dental research as well as providing health care for...
in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
. He was found fit to return to duty. On December 4, 1945, he received notice of his promotion to Captain, effective June 20, 1942. In January 1946, he began a period of retraining, beginning with refresher aviation training at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.
In May 1946, Captain Cunningham returned to sea duty as the Commanding Officer of the USS Curtiss (AV-4)
USS Curtiss (AV-4)
USS Curtiss was a seaplane tender of the United States Navy. The ship was launched on 20 April 1940 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation of Camden, New Jersey, sponsored by Mrs. H. S. Wheeler, and commissioned on 15 November 1940, Commander S. P...
. Cunningham's final duty was as Commanding Officer, Naval Technical Training Center, Memphis, Tennessee from June 23, 1947 until his retirement on June 30, 1950 at the rank of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
.
Retirement
After retirement, Rear Admiral Cunningham lived in Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. He wrote a book, Wake Island Command (1961), about the historic battle. He died on March 3, 1986 at age 86 and was buried in the Memphis National Cemetery
Memphis National Cemetery
Memphis National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the Nutbush neighborhood of the City of Memphis, in Shelby County, Tennessee...
.