When General James Van Fleet retired after 38 years of service, President Truman referred to him as “the greatest general we have ever had.”
As a graduate of West Point’s famed class of 1915* Van Fleet’s first assignment found him in Texas where he accompanied General Pershing in the pursuit of Mexico’s Pancho Villa.
Upon the U.S. entry into #WWI he was sent to France with the 6th Division and given command of the 17th Machine Gun Battalion where he earned the Silver Star twice for bravery and was wounded in action.
Returning stateside after the war, he coached the University of Florida’s football team while also running the school’s ROTC program. As head coach, he had a record of 12-3-4.
Answering the country’s call to arms once again, he commanded the 8th Infantry Regiment, of which he lead into battle on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Promoted and reassigned to command the 4th and 90th Infantry Divisions in Patton’s 3rd Army, Van Fleet assisted in the relief of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.
He would return to Europe in 1946 to aid the government of Greece in its efforts to thwart a Communist overthrow during the Greek Civil War.
In 1951, entering his third war, he commanded the U.S. Eighth Army and U.N. forces in Korea, replacing General Ridgeway, who himself was replacing outgoing General Douglas Macarthur.
Undoubtedly, his hardest challenge came at this time when his only son, CPT James Van Fleet Jr., was reported missing after a nighttime bombing mission in April of 1952.
In retirement, Van Fleet established the Korea Society, a non-profit still in operation, dedicated to the promotion of friendly ties with the people of Korea.
His numerous awards include an incredible three Distinguished Service Medals, however his most prized being the Combat Infantryman’s Badge; earned as a general officer – an extremely rare achievement.
Van Fleet passed away on September 23 in 1992 at the age of 100. Buried in Arlington’s Section 7, his headstone also includes an inscription for his son, who still remains Missing in Action.
As a Colonel, Van Fleet was passed over for promotion numerous times during WWII? Believed by General George C. Marshall to be a drunk, it was soon realized he was mistaken for another individual with a similar name. The issue was corrected and Van Fleet quickly made full general! Interestingly, Van Fleet’s papers were donated to the George C. Marshall Foundation.
*The West Point graduating class of 1915 produced more generals than any other class in the school’s history. It is referred to as “the class the stars fell on.” Of the 164 graduates, 59 would achieve stars. Van Fleet’s classmates included Five Star Generals Omar Nelson Bradley and Dwight Eisenhower.
#atrestoration #rectify #otd #vanfleet #general #fourstar #wwiihistory #westpoint #florida #floridagators #trumandoctrine #koreanwar #eightharmy #centenarian #anc #georgecmarshall #truman #eisenhower