John W. Vessey

John William Vessey Jr.
Vessey in 1983
Birth name	John William Vessey Jr.
Born	(1922-06-29)June 29, 1922 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	August 18, 2016(2016-08-18) (aged 94) North Oaks, Minnesota, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1939–1941 (U.S. Army National Guard) 1941–1985 (United States Army)
Rank	General
Unit	34th Infantry Division
Commands held	2nd Battalion, 73d Field Artillery, 3d Armored Division 3d Armored Division Artillery 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) 8th United States Army Commander in Chief of the Republic of Korea-United States Combined Forces Command Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Presidential Medal of Freedom

John William Vessey Jr. (June 29, 1922 – August 18, 2016) was an American military officer. He was a United States Army general, and served as the tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from June 18, 1982, to September 30, 1985.

When he retired in 1985 at the age of 63, General Vessey was the longest-serving active duty member in the United States Army. He began his 46-year military career in the Minnesota Army National Guard in 1939 when he was still 16. He received a battlefield commission during the Battle of Anzio in World War II. General Vessey also served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. As a Lieutenant Colonel, he graduated from college in 1963 at the age of 41. As a Colonel, he was a student at the Army helicopter school at the age of 48.

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed him as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a position he would hold for over three years, a comparatively short term. He was the last four star General who was also a combat veteran of World War II on active service.

After retiring from the Army, Vessey became involved in efforts to account for military personnel listed as missing in action from the Vietnam War. He made several trips to Vietnam to search for remains as part of resolving the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue. Vessey was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992.

Vessey was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on June 29, 1922. In May 1939, thirteen months before he graduated from Roosevelt High School, he enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard as a motorcycle rider in the 59th Field Artillery Brigade, 34th Infantry Division. His unit was activated in February 1941.

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