John R. Deane Jr.

John Russell Deane Jr. (June 8, 1919 – July 18, 2013) was a highly decorated United States Army officer who rose to the rank of general and served as commander of the United States Army Materiel Command.

John R. Deane Jr.
General John R. Deane Jr.
Born(1919-06-08)June 8, 1919
San Francisco, California
DiedJuly 18, 2013(2013-07-18) (aged 94)
Bangor, Maine
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1942–1977
RankGeneral
Service number0-24835
Commands heldUnited States Army Materiel Command
82nd Airborne Division
173rd Airborne Brigade
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross (2)
Army Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Silver Star (3)
Legion of Merit (2)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
RelationsMajor General John R. Deane (father)

Early life

Deane was born in San Francisco, California as the son of career army officer, future Major general John R. Deane.

United States

In 1937, Deane enlisted in the 16th Infantry. After one year, he entered the United States Military Academy. Upon graduation from the academy in 1942, he joined the 104th Infantry Division as a platoon leader and, by the end of World War II, he had become a battalion commander.

Deane held the position of Intelligence Officer in Europe from 1945 to 1947 and then returned to Washington, D.C. to work in the Joint War Plans Division, HQDA. In 1951, he became Executive Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. From this post, he went to the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, in 1952. Upon graduation, he served as Chief of Plans in the Military Armistice Commission until 1954.

Returning to the United States in late 1954, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College. Upon graduation, he became Chief of Programs and Budget in the Office of the Chief, Research and Development, HQDA. From 1958–1959, he attended the National War College. He then became Assistant to the Chief of Staff, United States Army Europe, Heidelberg, Germany. From February 1961 to June 1962, he was Commander of the 2nd Battle Group in Berlin. In December 1962, he returned to Washington as Assistant to the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, where he served as Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Deputy Director, Defense Research and Engineering). During this time, he attended Harvard Business School's six-week advanced management program. On 16 August 1965, he became the Assistant Division Commander, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Deane received the assignment of Chief of Staff, Field Forces in Vietnam in February 1966. In July 1966, he became Assistant Division Commander, 1st Infantry Division, Vietnam. In December 1966, he was assigned as Commanding General, 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam. He earned two Distinguished Service Crosses in Vietnam.

From October 1967 to September 1968, Deane served as Director of Doctrine in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development, United States Army. From October 1968 to July 1970, he was the Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In July 1972, he was appointed the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development, U.S. Army, where he served until August 1972, when he became the Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. He was promoted to full general and assumed command of the United States Army Materiel Development and Readiness Command on 12 February 1975. Deane retired from active service on 31 January 1977.

Deane died on July 18, 2013 in Bangor, Maine.[1]

Decorations

Master Parachutist Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
1st Row Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters Silver Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters
2nd Row Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star with "V" Device Purple Heart
3rd Row Air Medal (25 awards) Joint Service Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal American Defense Service Medal
4th Row American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three service stars World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal
5th Row National Defense Service Medal with one service star Korean Service Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one service star Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars and Arrowhead device
6th Row National Order of Vietnam, 5th Class Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm United Nations Korea Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Vietnam Parachutist Badge Army Aviator Badge

Dates of rank

InsigniaRankComponentDateReference
Second lieutenantInfantry29 May 1942[2]
First lieutenantArmy of the United States19 November 1942[2][3]
CaptainArmy of the United States14 July 1943[2][3]
MajorArmy of the United States22 May 1944[2][3]
Lieutenant colonelArmy of the United States12 April 1945[2][3]
First lieutenantInfantry29 May 1945[2][3]
CaptainInfantry1 July 1948[2]
MajorInfantry6 July 1954[2]
Lieutenant colonelInfantry29 May 1962[2]
ColonelInfantry (temporary)6 December 1955[2]
Brigadier generalRegular Army1 August 1965[2]
ColonelInfantry29 May 1967[2]
Major generalRegular Army1 November 1967[2]
Brigadier generalRegular Army20 November 1968[2]
Major generalRegular Army30 June 1948[2]
Lieutenant generalRegular Army22 September 1972[2]
GeneralRegular Army12 February 1975[2]

Notes

  1. "Gen. John Russell Deane Jr". The Durango Herald. August 1, 2013. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013.
  2. Deane 2018, p. 227.
  3. Cullum 1950, p. 1183.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document: "https://www.amc.army.mil/Portals/9/Images/Former%20Commanders/Bios/Deane.pdf?ver=2017-08-28-074524-213".

References

  • Deane, John R. Jr. (2018). Mason, Jack C. (ed.). Lessons in Leadership: My Life in the US Army from World War II to Vietnam. American Warriors Series. University Press of Kentucky. JSTOR j.ctt22p7j74.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.