John Galvin (general)

John Galvin
Galvin in March 1991
Birth name John Rogers Galvin
Born May 13, 1929
Wakefield, Massachusetts
Died September 25, 2015(2015-09-25) (aged 86)
Jonesboro, Georgia
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1954–1992
Rank General
Commands held 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
24th Infantry Division
United States Southern Command
U.S. European Command
Supreme Allied Commander
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Cold War
Awards   Defense Distinguished Service Medal
  Army Distinguished Service Medal
  Silver Star
  Legion of Merit (3)
  Distinguished Flying Cross
  Soldier's Medal
  Bronze Star (3)
  Air Medal with "V" Device
Other work Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century

John Rogers Galvin (May 13, 1929 – September 25, 2015) was an American army general who served as the sixth dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a member of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century.

Career

Galvin began his service as an enlisted soldier in the Massachusetts Army National Guard from 1947 to 1950 before he received an appointment to United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science degree. In 1969, during the Vietnam War, lieutenant colonel Galvin commanded the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). For his actions as the battalion's commander he was awarded the Silver Star.[1]

He later earned a Master of Arts degree in English from Columbia University and completed a fellowship at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1971. Galvin rose through the ranks and commanded the 24th Infantry Division. later on he commanded the VII Corps from July 1983 to February 1985.

Galvin's career included the rare opportunity to command two different Department of Defense Unified Commands. He served as Commander in Chief, United States Southern Command in Panama from 1985 to 1987 and Commander in Chief, United States European Command from June 26, 1987, to June 23, 1992. During his tenure as Commander U.S. European Command he also served as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR).[2]

During his time as SACEUR many stay-behind networks in Europe were dismantled, a process that started with the revelations by Italy's then prime minister, Giulio Andreotti, who disclosed to the Italian Parliament the existence of a Gladio stay-behind anti-communist paramilitary network headed by NATO and present in most European countries.[3]

Personal life

Galvin lived with his wife Ginny and had four daughters. One of his daughters, Beth, is a medical reporter for WAGA, the FOX affiliate in Atlanta. The Galvin Middle School in Wakefield, Massachusetts, is named after him. The United States Military Academy awarded Galvin (Class of '54) the 1997 Distinguished Graduate Award.[4] On September 25, 2015, he died in Jonesboro, Georgia at the age of 86.[5]

Galvin's awards and decorations include
V
Bronze star
Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
1st Row
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
2nd Row
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit (with two oak leaf clusters)
3rd Row
Distinguished Flying Cross
Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star Medal (with two oak leaf clusters)
4th Row
Air Medal with V Device for valor
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Army Service Ribbon
5th Row
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Great Cross of Merit with star of the Federal Republic of Germany
Bavarian Order of Merit
6th Row
Ordre de la Légion d'honneur Grand Officier
Spanish Order of Military Merit Grand Cross
Order of Orange-Nassau Grand Cross, 1992[4]
Badge
Senior Parachutist Badge

Bibliography

  • Galvin, John (1969). Air Assault: the Development of Airmobile.
  • Galvin, John (1997). Three Men of Boston. ISBN 1574881116.
  • Galvin, John (2006). The Minute Men: The First Fight: Myths and Realities of the American Revolution. ISBN 1597970700.
  • Galvin, John (2015). Fighting the Cold War: A Soldier's Memoir. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky.

See also

References

  1. ↑ John Rogers Galvin awardes, Military Times hall of vallor.
  2. ↑ http://www.usarmygermany.com/Sont.htm?http&&&www.usarmygermany.com/Units/Corps/USAREUR_VIICorps.htm
  3. ↑ "General John Galvin - obituary". Telegraph. October 18, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "ANP Historisch Archief Community - Den Haag". April 13, 1992. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Wakefield Native General John R. Galvin Dies at Age of 86". Wakefield, MA Patch. 28 September 2015.
Military offices
Preceded by
Gen. Bernard W. Rogers		 Supreme Allied Commander Europe
1987—1992		 Succeeded by
Gen. John Shalikashvili
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