Joseph May Swing

{{short description|US Army general (1894–1984)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Joe Swing |image = LTG Joseph M. Swing (cropped).jpg |office = Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service |president = Dwight Eisenhower John F. Kennedy |term_start = May 24, 1954 |term_end = January 5, 1962 |predecessor = Argyle Mackey |successor = Raymond Farrell |birth_name = Joseph May Swing |birth_date = {{birth date|1894|2|28}} |birth_place = Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. |death_date = {{death date and age|1984|12|9|1894|2|28}} |death_place = San Francisco, California, U.S. |resting_place = Arlington National Cemetery |education = United States Military Academy (BS) |nickname = "Jumpin' Joe" |allegiance = {{flag|United States}} |branch = {{army|United States}} |service_years = 1915–1954 |rank = Lieutenant General |unit = Field Artillery Branch |commands = Sixth United States Army United States Army War College United States Army Field Artillery School I Corps 11th Airborne Division |battles = {{tree list}} *Border War *World War I *World War II **Italian campaign **Philippines campaign **Occupation of Japan *Korean War {{tree list/end}} |mawards = Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (3) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (3) Air Medal (2) }} '''Joseph May Swing''' (February 28, 1894 – December 9, 1984) was a senior United States Army officer, who fought in World War I and commanded the 11th Airborne Division during the campaign to liberate the Philippines in World War II.

==Early life and military career== thumb|left|150px|At West Point in 1915

Joseph May Swing was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on February 28, 1894, the son of Mary Ann (née Snellgrove) and Joseph Swing. He attended the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York and was commissioned as an additional second lieutenant upon graduation in June 1915 (see the class the stars fell on). Having been assigned to the Field Artillery Branch of the United States Army, from September 1915 onwards he served with the 4th Field Artillery Regiment at Texas City, Texas, which soon moved to El Paso, later moving to Columbus, New Mexico in March 1916. Swing served with Brigadier General John J. Pershing's Punitive Expedition in the hunt for Pancho Villa,<ref name="Joseph M. Swing">{{cite web|url=https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/our-history-5 |title=Joseph M. Swing |publisher=U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services |date= |access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref> during which he was promoted to second lieutenant on May 8 and then promoted again to first lieutenant on July 1, until July when he moved with his regiment to Fort Bliss, Texas. He remained here until October when he was transferred to the 8th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Myer, Virginia, with whom he served until May 1917, a month after the American entry into World War I. <ref name="Cullum 1920">{{cite book |url=https://digital-library.usma.edu/digital/collection/p16919coll3/id/17463|title=Biographical register of the officers and graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York since its establishment in 1802: Supplement, 1910–1920|date=September 1920|volume=VI-B|pages=1742|publisher=Seemann & Peters, Printers |access-date=2024-09-29}}</ref>

He was promoted to captain on the 15th of that month and, in June, after being assigned as aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Peyton C. March, a position he would hold for the rest of the war, both men embarked for service in France. Swing, promoted to the temporary rank of major on March 5, 1918, was to serve in France until later in the month when March, now a major general, was recalled to Washington, D.C. to become the new army chief of staff.<ref name="Cullum 1920"/>

He married General March's daughter, Josephine, on July 8, 1918.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/5350/ |title=Joseph M. Swing 1915 |last=Flanagan Jr. |first=Edward M. |publisher=West Point Association of Graduates |access-date=3 February 2017 |archive-date=September 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910013050/http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/5350/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Between the wars== [[File:MARCH, PEYTON C., MAJ. GEN., U.S.A., CHIEF OF STAFF. LEFT LCCN2016868956 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|General Peyton C. March, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, and his aide-de-camp, Joseph M. Swing.]]

After the war, Swing continued his career in the artillery, graduating with honors from the United States Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In 1927 he graduated from the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and in 1935 he graduated from the United States Army War College in Washington D.C. On June 24, 1936 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.<ref name="Generals of World War II">{{cite web|url=https://generals.dk/general/Swing/Joseph_May/USA.html|title=Biography of Lieutenant General Joseph May Swing, (1894−1984), USA|website=generals.dk}}</ref> From 1938 to 1940 he served as chief of staff for the 2nd Infantry Division, then as commander of artillery for the 1st Cavalry Division.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/5350/ |title=Joseph M. Swing 1915 |last=Flanagan Jr. |first=Edward M. |publisher=West Point Association of Graduates |access-date=3 February 2017 |archive-date=September 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910013050/http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/5350/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> On June 26, 1941 he was promoted to colonel in the Army of the United States (AUS).<ref name="Generals of World War II"/>

==World War II== Swing was promoted to brigadier general (AUS) on February 16, 1942<ref name="Generals of World War II"/> and organized the division artillery of the 82nd Infantry Division, shortly before their conversion to an airborne division.

[[File:MacArthur arrives at Atsugi;ac01732.jpg|thumb|left|200px|General Douglas MacArthur, (second from the right), upon his arrival at Atsugi airdrome, near Tokyo, Japan, 30 August 1945. General Robert L. Eichelberger (right); Major General Joseph Swing (far left, wearing helmet).]]

After being promoted to the temporary rank of major general, on February 15, 1943<ref name="Generals of World War II"/> Swing activated the newly formed 11th Airborne Division at Camp Mackall, North Carolina. He was then sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) to assist with planning the airborne operations conducted during Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. His permanent rank was upgraded from lieutenant colonel to colonel on August 1, 1943.<ref name="Generals of World War II"/>

After returning to the United States, he continued to oversee the training of the 11th Airborne Division, leading them to a successful victory in the Knollwood training maneuver on December 7, 1943. The performance of Swing and the 11th Airborne is credited with saving the concept of the airborne division.{{sfn|Huston|1998|pp=136–137}}

Swing and the officers and men of the 11th Airborne Division shipped out for the Southwest Pacific in May 1944. He would lead the division for the duration of the war, from the invasion of the Philippines to the occupation of Japan. Swing and the 11th Airborne Division greeted General Douglas MacArthur upon his arrival in Japan at Atsugi Airdrome on August 30, 1945.

Swing emerged from the war with several decorations, the highest of which was the Distinguished Service Cross, awarded for his outstanding bravery in mid-April 1945. The citation for the medal reads:

{{Quote|The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major General Joseph May Swing (ASN: 0-3801), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding General, 11th Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces from 15 to 17 April 1945, at Luzon, Philippine Islands. Major General Swing displayed superior tactical knowledge and inspiring leadership while personally leading repeated attacks against the strong Japanese defense position at Mt. Macolod, Batangas, Luzon. He flew many dangerous flights in liaison airplanes at low altitudes over the heavily defended ridges in order to make a thorough estimate of the enemy positions and of the terrain. Despite the protest of subordinates, he personally, and on foot, led tank destroyers forward through intense enemy machine-gun and mortar fire to place them in more advantageous positions, and directed their fire so effectively that the enemy-held ridge was taken without further delay. He then moved to the south flank where he found the front lines stalemated and weapons unmanned because of heavy enemy fire. With heroic disregard for his personal safety, General Swing strode fearlessly between tanks and machine guns, calling upon his troops to man their weapons and attack. Inspired by his fearlessness and heroic action, the troops attacked, silenced the Japanese fire, and seized and held the main enemy positions. Through his inspiring courage and valiant leadership, General Swing made a distinguished contribution to the liberation of the Philippine Islands. His gallant leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 11th Airborne Division, and the United States Army.}}

==Postwar== Swing commanded the 11th Airborne Division, during which time his permanent rank became brigadier general on June 16, 1947,<ref name="Generals of World War II"/> until 1948 when he was assigned command of I Corps in Kyoto, Japan. On January 24, 1948 his permanent rank was upgraded to major general.<ref name="Generals of World War II"/> This was followed by a stint as commandant of the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, then as commandant of the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. His final posting was as commander of the Sixth Army in San Francisco in 1951. Swing retired from active duty on February 28, 1954, retiring with the rank of lieutenant general.<ref name="Joseph M. Swing"/>

[[File:ANCExplorer Joseph M. Swing grave.jpg|thumb|left|The grave of Lieutenant General Joseph May Swing at Arlington National Cemetery]]

[[File:Frank Pace at Sixth Army Headquarters 63-1387-14 original.jpg|thumb|right|(Left to right): General Milton B. Halsey, Secretary of Army Frank Pace, Lieutenant General Joseph M. Swing, and Brigadier General William T. Sexton stand in front of the Sixth Army Headquarters on September 16, 1952.]]

After leaving the army, his friend and West Point classmate President Dwight D. Eisenhower nominated him as the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization. Following confirmation, Swing served as the head of the INS from 1954 to 1962. Among the programs he implemented was the controversial Operation Wetback (1954), designed to slow the number of illegal border crossings from Mexico.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Funderburk |first=Brent |title=Operation Wetback |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Operation-Wetback |access-date=7 February 2017}}</ref>

Swing died in San Francisco at the age of 90 on December 9, 1984, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia, together with his wife, Josephine Mary Swing (1895–1972).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgVzd2luZxIGam9zZXBoGgFt/ |title=Burial Detail: Swing, Joseph M. (Section 30, Grave S-17-A) |work= ANC Explorer|publisher=Arlington National Cemetery |id=(Official website)}}</ref>

==Decorations== * 60px  Parachutist Badge * 60px  Distinguished Service Cross * 60px  Army Distinguished Service Medal * 60px  Silver Star with two oak leaf clusters * 60px  Legion of Merit * 60px  Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters * 60px  Air Medal with oak leaf cluster

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Bibliography== *{{Cite book|last=Huston |first=James A.|title=Out Of The Blue: U.S Army Airborne Operations In World War II|publisher=Purdue University Press|year=1998|isbn=1-55753-148-X|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WM3724B5bzwC}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/our-history-5 Biography from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website]  *{{cite web|url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jmswing.htm |title= Joseph May Swing|date= April 18, 2023|publisher=at ArlingtonCemetery.net|id=(Unofficial website)}} *[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1984/12/12/joseph-m-swing-ex-immigration-secretary-at-90/7daf7511-4d8d-4038-b6be-44986598c494/ ''Washington Post'' obituary, dated 12 December 1984] *[https://generals.dk/general/Swing/Joseph_May/USA.html Generals of World War II]

{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-new|office}} {{s-ttl|title=Commanding General of the 11th Airborne Division|years=1943–1946}} {{s-aft|after=William M. Miley}} |- {{s-bef|before=Roscoe B. Woodruff}} {{s-ttl|title=Commanding General of the I Corps|years=1948–1949}} {{s-aft|after=John B. Coulter}} |- {{s-bef|before=Clift Andrus}} {{s-ttl|title=Commandant of the Army Field Artillery School|years=1949–1950}} {{s-aft|after=Arthur M. Harper}} |- {{s-vac|last=Philip B. Peyton 1940}} {{s-ttl|title=Commandant of the Army War College|years=1950–1951}} {{s-aft|after=Edward Almond}} |- {{s-bef|before=Albert Wedemeyer}} {{s-ttl|title=Commanding General Sixth Army|years=1951–1954}} {{s-aft|after=Willard G. Wyman}} |- {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Argyle Mackey}} {{s-ttl|title=Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service|years=1954–1962}} {{s-aft|after=Raymond Farrell}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swing, Joseph May}} Category:1894 births Category:1984 deaths Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Category:Graduates of the United States Military Academy Class of 1915 Category:Military personnel from Jersey City, New Jersey Category:Recipients of the Air Medal Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit Category:Recipients of the Silver Star Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni Category:United States Army Field Artillery Branch personnel Category:United States Army generals of World War II Category:United States Army personnel of World War I Category:United States Army War College alumni Category:United States Military Academy alumni