James Benjamin Lampert
| James B. Lampert | |
|---|---|
James Benjamin Lampert
|
|
| Born |
April 16, 1914 Washington, D.C. |
| Died | July 10, 1978 (aged 64) Washington, D.C. |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1936–1972 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | US Army Corps of Engineers |
| Commands held | Superintendent, United States Military Academy |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Vietnam War |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Medal (3) Silver Star Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal |
James Benjamin Lampert (April 16, 1914 – July 10, 1978) was a former United States Army Lieutenant General, Superintendent of the United States Military Academy (1963–1966), and early pioneer of nuclear weapons and nuclear power. Lampert was General Leslie Groves' executive officer as part of the Manhattan Project after World War II.
Born in Washington, D.C. on April 16, 1914, Lampert was the son of Lt. Col. James G. B. Lampert, USMA 1910, who died in January 1919 while serving with the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe. He spent his childhood in Wisconsin, where his mother moved after his father died. He received an appointment to West Point as a member of the class of 1936. Upon graduating 36th in his class of 276, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery branch, but within a year transferred to the Engineer branch. He studied civil-engineering at MIT, earning his MS in 1939.
With the onset of World War II, Lampert was assigned to the South Pacific where he commanded an engineer aviation battalion in the Fiji Islands and Solomon Islands. In January 1944 he became the XIV Corps chief engineer, where he participated in the invasion of Luzon, Philippines, and the subsequent liberation of Manila in March 1945. During the war, Lampert was awarded the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star. Following the war, Lampert joined the Air Force's Special Weapons Project and became the executive officer to Lieutenant General Leslie R. Groves, who was chief of the Manhattan Project (1947–1949).
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