John William Vessey Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Vessey in 1983 | |
| Nickname(s) | "Jack" |
| Born | June 29, 1922 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | August 18, 2016 (aged 94) North Oaks, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Buried | Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls, Minnesota |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | Minnesota Army National Guard United States Army |
| Years of service | 1939–1985 |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | Field Artillery Branch |
| Commands | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Republic of Korea-United States Combined Forces Command 8th United States Army United States Forces Korea 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) Military Assistance Advisory Group Laos U.S. Army Supply Thailand 3rd Armored Division Artillery 2nd Battalion, 73d Field Artillery |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Army Distinguished Service Medal (3) Navy Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal (2) Presidential Medal of Freedom |
John William "Jack" Vessey Jr. (June 29, 1922 – August 18, 2016) was a career officer in the United States Army. He attained the rank of general, and was most notable for his service as the tenth chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
A native of Minneapolis, Vessey began his 46-year military career in 1939 when he joined the Minnesota Army National Guard's 59th Field Artillery Brigade, a unit of the 34th Infantry Division. His unit was activated for World War II, and he took part in combat in the North African and Italian Campaigns. Vessey received a battlefield commission to second lieutenant during the Battle of Anzio, and served as a field artillery forward observer until the end of the war. After the war, Vessey advanced through positions of increasing rank and responsibility. During the Vietnam War, he served as executive officer of the 25th Infantry Division Artillery and acting commander of 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery, and he received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism during the Battle of Suoi Tre. He served as commander of the 3rd Armored Division Artillery from 1967 to 1969, and division chief of staff from 1969 to 1970.
Vessey was promoted to brigadier general in 1970, and assigned as commander of U.S. Army Supply Thailand, a logistics support area for soldiers serving in Vietnam. He commanded U.S. military activities in Laos from 1973 to 1974, when he was promoted to major general as commander of the 4th Infantry Division. In 1975, Vessey was promoted to lieutenant general and assigned as the Army's deputy chief of staff for operations and plans, G-3. He was promoted to general in 1976, and named to command United States Forces Korea and the Eighth United States Army. In 1978, Vessey also assumed command of the Republic of Korea-United States Combined Forces Command. He served in South Korea until 1979, when he was assigned as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.
In 1982, President Ronald Reagan named Vessey as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He served until retiring in October 1985. After leaving the Army, Vessey became involved in efforts to account for military personnel listed as missing in action, and made several trips to Southeast Asia to search for remains as part of resolving the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992. Vessey died in North Oaks, Minnesota, on August 18, 2016. He was buried at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.