Oliver Loving Spiller
Brigadier General, U.S. Army

Oliver Loving Spiller was born on 15 November 1887 in Jacksboro, TX. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1909. He resigned his commission in 1910 and was subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps.

Spiller served in the Philippines from 1914-17. He was then Instructor, School of Artillery Fire, from July-October 1917. In World War I, he served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France during 1918-19 and, upon returning to the U.S., he became an Instructor at the Coast Artillery School until 1924.

He was a student at the Command & General Staff School in 1924-25 and a student at the Army War College from 1929-30. Spiller served in Panama from 1936-39.

While serving as Commander, Harbor Defenses, Eastern New York, during 1939-40, he was promoted to Brigadier General in 1940 and then became Commander of the Anti-Aircraft Training Center from 1940-41.

In 1941-42 he was Commanding General, 39th Coast Artillery Brigade; Commandant of the Anti-Aircraft Artillery School from 1942-43; Commander, Camp Stewart, February-July 1943; and Commanding General, Gulf Sector, Southern Defense Command from 1943-44.

Spiller was Commanding General, Gulf Sector, Caribbean Defense Command, from 1944 until his retirement in August 1945.

Personal

Oliver Spiller was married to Margaret Alvord (1891-1930), the daughter of Brigadier General Benjamin Alvord, Jr., U.S. Army. Their son, Benjamin Alvord Spiller became a Colonel in the U.S. Army.

After Margaret's death in 1930, he married Katherine (1889-1964).

Death and Burial

Brigadier General Oliver Loving Spiller died on 29 September 1981. He is buried in Section 4 of Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.  Both of his wives are buried with him and his son, Colonel Benjamin Alvord Spiller, is buried next to him.