GEN John W. Vessey Passes
GEN John W. Vessey, US Army (Ret), has died. He was 94.
Vessey was the 10th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, serving in that capacity from 1982-1985. As CJCS, he oversaw the peak of the Reagan military revival. US success in both Gulf Wars can be traced to changes in the US military made or begun during that period.
Vessey enlisted in the MN ARNG in 1939. He served in World War II in both North Africa and Italy. He received a battlefield commission at Anzio in 1944, having previously served as a company First Sergeant. After World War II, Vessey chose to make the Army his career.
As a commissioned officer, Vessey held multiple commands. He commanded 2/77th FA during the Battle of Suoi Tre and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during that battle (his unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation). His later commands included the 3rd Armored Division’s DIVARTY, the 4th Infantry Division, and Eighth US Army in Korea.
In the last assignment, Vessey had the distinction of being one of the few people able to prevent that “wonderfully competent” POTUS, Jimmuh-the-Clueless, from doing something monumentally stupid. Vessey is reputed to have convinced Carter to delay, then finally cancel his plan to withdraw US combat forces from Korea. Doing this is believed to have caused Vessey to be bypassed for Chief of Staff of the Army in mid-1979 (he was named Vice-Chief instead and the newly-promoted GEN Edward C. Meyer was appointed by Carter as Chief-of-Staff).
Vessey retired in 1985. At the time of his retirement he had served in uniform for 46 years.
Post-retirement, Vessey served under two Presidents as special emissary to Vietnam. His primary focus in both assignments was accounting for US personnel still missing in Southeast Asia.
Rest in peace, General. The nation is better off today due to your service.
(The current Wiipedia article on GEN Vessey was also used as a source in preparing the above.)
Category: Blue Skies
From private to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs? A-mazing.
There have actually been several different CJCS who technically went that route (enlisted service to officer). However, excluding those whose only enlisted service was during ROTC there are are at least two (and perhaps 3) who may be able to make that claim legitimately.
Along with Vessey, GEN John Malchase David Shalikashvili, US Army, had significant prior enlisted service. GEN Shalikashvili emigrated to the US at age 16 after World War II. He received his draft notice in 1958, about the time he completed college. He enlisted – and found he liked the Army. He then applied to OCS, successfully completed the course, and received a commission. His final assignment in the military was as the 13th CJCS.
The 9th CJCS, Gen. David Jones, USAF, may also be able to make that claim. Gen. Jones was in college in Apr 1942, but obtained his civilian pilot’s license at that time. He then quit college and entered the Army Air Corps. He didn’t graduate from flight training until Feb 1943. His status (officer/enlisted) between entry in Apr 1942 and Feb 1943 is unclear – I suspect he was an enlisted troop until he completed flight school, but I’m not certain. What is clear is that he’d have almost certainly ended up an enlisted guy if he’d “boloed” flight school completely (e.g., failed to qualify as pilot, navigator, or bombardier).
I’m not terribly sure that beret-boi Shalikashvili is a good example for anything other than ‘it can be done’. Not a fan.
Right there with you on Shalikashvili. But as for Vessey, there was great man.
Beret? Shalikashvili retired in 1997, 4 years before the Army adopted berets as standard headgear. Eric Shinseki was Chief of Staff of the Army when he implemented the beret policy. Shinseki didn’t assume duties as CSA until 1999, and the berets came along in 2001.
Yep. The Army adopting the black beret as standard headgear was the result of a visit by the “Good Idea Fairy” to then-CSA GEN Shinsheki. GEN Shalikashvili had nothing to do with that foolish decision.
I met him during an overseas deployment in 82/83. He was being lead around our positions by our unit commander all the while being briefed on “this and that”. But when he saw some of my troops taking some time to relax with a makeshift volley ball game; it was all stop and he went right over to watch them. I remember his huge smile and thought he’s about to join the game. He asked quite a few insightful questions of the troops and got plain English answers which I believe he appreciated more than the briefs on “this and that”.
He was the genuine article and will be deeply missed. Held EVERY rank in the Army, enlisted through Officer (less WOs).
Once knew a guy who’d been successful in all 3 capacities. He’d been USMC enlisted for a few years, and had been promoted to either Sgt. or SSgt. before applying for and obtaining a Warrant. He was promoted to W2, and someone then convinced him to apply to OCS. He did, and was commissioned.
He retired as a Marine Colonel. Helluva guy.
Daily Mail has an excellent article on the GEN: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3748369/Former-chairman-joint-chiefs-Gen-John-Vessey-dies-94.html
This C&P is from Gen Jones official biography
The general was born in Aberdeen, S.D. He graduated from high school in Minot, N.D., in 1939 and attended the University of North Dakota and Minot State College until the outbreak of World War II. He entered the Army Air Corps, beginning aviation cadet training in April 1942, and received his commission and pilot wings in February 1943. A graduate of the National War College, the general was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1974, an honorary doctorate of laws degree from Lousiana Tech University in 1975, and an honorary doctorate of humane letters degree from Minot State College, Minot, N.D., in 1979.
Thanks. However, that still doesn’t precisely clarify Gen Jones’ status during the period Apr 1942 to Feb 1943 beyond being an “Aviation Cadet”. It’s unclear whether service as an “Aviation Cadet” during World War II was considered enlisted or officer service. I believe it was technically the former until the individual graduated and was commissioned (or appointed Flight Officer), but I’m not positive.
Thank You, GEN Vessey for your service to the country. May you rest in peace and God comfort your family.
(SALUTE)
Enjoyed a lot of the positives that were in place because of GEN Vessey. We had a good Army for a while then along came Slick Willie…
RIP GEN Vessey.
RE: nbcguy54ACTUAL
I joined the post-Korea airborne infantry and stayed on until post-Vietnam and then maintained a professional connection until 2005. Trust me, today’s Army and Marine Corps are superb. Period.
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32 years later I still remember his name and SMA Morrell’s – had to memorize them during Basic 🙂 .