James B. Vaught

Lieutenant General

James B. Vaught
Nickname(s)"The General"
Born(1926-11-03)November 3, 1926
Conway, South Carolina, US
DiedSeptember 20, 2013(2013-09-20) (aged 86)
Horry County, South Carolina, US
Buried
Tilly Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery
Conway, South Carolina
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1944–1985
RankLieutenant General
CommandsROK-US Combined Forces Command
24th Infantry Division
5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry
Battles / warsWorld War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Iran Hostage Crisis (Operation Eagle Claw)

James Benjamin Vaught (November 3, 1926 – September 20, 2013) was a United States Army Lieutenant General who fought in the Korean War and the Vietnam War.[1] In South Korea he served as a company commander in the 24th Infantry Division. In 1967, in South Vietnam, on his first tour he served as the commanding officer of the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry. He also played a major role in numerous United States Special Forces operations. He was the overall commander of Operation Eagle Claw, the failed rescue mission of U.S. hostages in Iran in 1980.

  1. ^ "Lieutenant-General James Vaught". The Telegraph. 27 September 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.