Luther R. Stevens

Luther Rea Stevens (3 July 1889 – 7 February 1973) was a military officer who served in the Philippine Constabulary, Philippine Army and United States Army. During World War II, he commanded the 91st Division during the Philippines campaign and then spent more than three years as a prisoner of war after surrendering at Bataan in April 1942.

Early life and education Stevens was born and raised in Wesson, Mississippi.

Career Stevens accepted a commission as a third lieutenant in the Philippine Constabulary in July 1910. He was also commissioned in the United States Army Officers' Reserve Corps.

Stevens was promoted to major in January 1922 and subsequently received a temporary promotion to lieutenant colonel in March 1924. He then served as constabulary commander in the District of Mindanao and Sulu from March 1924 to July 1927. Permanently promoted to lieutenant colonel in January 1927,

Stevens served as superintendent of the Philippine Constabulary Academy from July to December 1927 before resuming command in the District of Mindanao and Sulu in January 1929. Stevens was promoted to colonel in February 1933. He was honorably discharged from his U.S. Army Reserve commission in March 1936 when the Philippine military forces were reorganized. After capture, he survived the Bataan Death March. As a non-Filipino general officer, Stevens was interned with senior U.S. Army officers. His wife Lula and daughter Betty were imprisoned at the Santo Tomas Internment Camp. His three sons were studying in the United States at the time of the Japanese invasion. When the original nomination expired at the end of the congressional session, it was resubmitted in January 1946 but failed to obtain Senate confirmation. Stevens instead accepted an appointment as a temporary U.S. Army colonel in July 1946.

Later life Stevens and his wife lived in West Palm Beach, Florida after his retirement. They died in an automobile accident in St. Petersburg, Florida and were interred in his family's plot at the Wesson Cemetery in Mississippi.