John K. Singlaub

John K. Singlaub
Singlaub
Birth nameJohn Kirk Singlaub
Born(1921-07-10)July 10, 1921
Independence, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 29, 2022(2022-01-29) (aged 100)
Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service / branchUnited States Army seal United States Army
Years of service1943–1978
Rank Major General
Battles / warsWorld War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal (2)
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (3)
Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star (2)
Air Medal (2)
Purple Heart (2)

Major General John Kirk Singlaub (July 10, 1921 – January 29, 2022) was a major general in the United States Army, founding member of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and a highly decorated officer in the former Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

In 1977, Singlaub was relieved from his position as Chief of Staff of U.S. forces in South Korea after criticizing President Jimmy Carter's proposal to withdraw U.S. troops from the Korean peninsula in an interview with the Washington Post. Less than a year later, Singlaub was forced to retire after publicly questioning President Carter's national security policies. In 1979, Singlaub founded the Western Goals Foundation, a private intelligence network that was implicated for supplying weapons to the Contras during the Iran–Contra affair. Singlaub contributed to several books and wrote an autobiography.