Rear Admiral Oral Raymond Swigart (October 7, 1897June 21, 1973) was an American naval officer. While at the
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...
he competed in the
Greco-Roman lightweight event at the
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1920; nl, Olympische Zomerspelen van 1920; german: Olympische Sommerspiele 1920), officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad (french: Jeux de la VIIe olympiade; nl, Spelen van ...
. During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
Swigart served as commander of the
USS ''Melville'', escorting some of the first troops to Britain in early 1942. He later served in command of a flotilla of
Landing Ship, Tank
Landing Ship, Tank (LST), or tank landing ship, is the naval designation for ships first developed during World War II (1939–1945) to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shore with ...
s in the Pacific Theatre. Swigart received two Legions of Merit and the Bronze Star for his service.
Early life
Oral Raymond Swigart was born in
Columbia City, Indiana
Columbia City is a city in Columbia Township, Whitley County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 9,892 (2020 Census), growing by 13% since the 2010 Census. The city is the county seat of Whitley County.
History
The Whitley County ...
, on October 9, 1897.
He attended
Columbia City High School
Columbia City High School is a public high school located in Columbia City, Indiana.
Notable Alumni
* Jim Banks - U.S. representative for Indiana's 3rd congressional district
* Hannah Schaefer - Christian musician
* Cleon H. Foust - Th ...
before entering the
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...
in Annapolis, Maryland.
Swigart captained the naval academy's wrestling team and was entered onto the
Naval Academy Athletic Association hall of fame.
He was part of the American team sent to the
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1920; nl, Olympische Zomerspelen van 1920; german: Olympische Sommerspiele 1920), officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad (french: Jeux de la VIIe olympiade; nl, Spelen van ...
where he competed in the
Greco-Roman lightweight event.
Swigart was granted permission to remain at the academy longer than normal to train for the event. He beat the Italian
Walter Ranghieri in the first round but was knocked out by
Frits Janssens
Frits Janssens (14 March 1892 – 30 March 1965) was a Belgian wrestler. He competed at the 1920, 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics ( nl, Olympische Zomerspelen 1928), officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad ( n ...
in round two.
Janssens was of heavier weight and more familiar with the Greco-Roman style; Swigart was used to
freestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling is a style of wrestling originated from Great Britain and the United States. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic Games. American high school and men's college wrestling ...
.
Naval career
After graduating from the academy in 1921 Swigart was commissioned into the US Navy. He was commander of the
USS ''Melville'' which accompanied the first American troops to the United Kingdom in January 1942.
Swigart was recognized for his efforts when commanding troop transports during the
Allied invasion of Sicily
The Allied invasion of Sicily, also known as Operation Husky, was a major campaign of World War II in which the Allied forces invaded the island of Sicily in July 1943 and took it from the Axis powers ( Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany). It bega ...
.
[
Transferring to the Pacific Theatre he commanded ]Landing Ship, Tank
Landing Ship, Tank (LST), or tank landing ship, is the naval designation for ships first developed during World War II (1939–1945) to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shore with ...
Flotilla 8.[ Swigart landed troops and supplies at Tonga and New Zealand and helped transport the First Marine Division to the Solomon Islands.][ He later participated in the ]Guadalcanal campaign
The Guadalcanal campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by American forces, was a military campaign fought between 7 August 1942 and 9 February 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in th ...
, landing supplies for the troops and brought troops to the beaches of Leyte and Manila.[ This included the ]Invasion of Lingayen Gulf
The Invasion of Lingayen Gulf ( fil, Paglusob sa Golpo ng Lingayen), 6–9 January 1945, was an Allied amphibious operation in the Philippines during World War II. In the early morning of 6 January 1945, a large Allied force commanded by Admira ...
and the Battle of Mindanao
The Battle of Mindanao (Filipino: ''Labanan sa Mindanao;'' Cebuano: ''Gubat sa Mindanao;'' Japanese: ミンダナオの戦い) was fought by the Americans and allied Filipino guerrillas against the Japanese forces on the island of Mindanao in ...
.[ Swigart received the ]Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
with a star for a second award and combat "V" device
A "V" device is a metal capital letter "V" with serifs which, when worn on certain decorations awarded by the United States Armed Forces, distinguishes an award for heroism or valor in combat instead of for meritorious service or achievement. ...
and a Bronze Star for his service. He was also awarded the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
The European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was first created on November 6, 1942, by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The medal was intended to recognize those m ...
with one campaign star, the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal
The Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal is a United States military award of the Second World War, which was awarded to any member of the United States Armed Forces who served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945. The medal was created ...
with five campaign stars and the Philippine Liberation Medal
The Philippine Liberation Medal is a military award of the Republic of the Philippines which was created by an order of Commonwealth Army of the Philippines Headquarters on 20 December 1944, and was issued as the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. The d ...
with two campaign stars.[ He retired in 1951 as a ]rear admiral
Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...
.[
]
Personal life
Swigart was married to Margaret Williams. They had two sons who both served as officers in the United States Marine Corps: Oral Swigart Jr. who reached the rank of colonel and Captain Robert Williams Swigart who was killed in action in the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
in July 1967. Oral Swigart Sr. died in Paris, France, on June 21, 1973, of a suspected heart attack.[
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swigart, Oral
1897 births
1973 deaths
Olympic wrestlers for the United States
Wrestlers at the 1920 Summer Olympics
American male sport wrestlers
People from Columbia City, Indiana
Sportspeople from Indiana
Military personnel from Indiana
United States Navy rear admirals
Navy Midshipmen wrestlers
United States Navy personnel of World War II
Recipients of the Legion of Merit