John William Vessey Jr., American military officer, Died at 94

  Military

John William Vessey Jr. was born on June 29, 1922, and died on August 18, 2016.

He was an American military officer.

John 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.

After he retired in 1985 at the age of 63, General Vessey was the longest-serving active duty member in the United States Army.

John started his 46-year military career in the Minnesota National Guard in 1939 when he was still 16.

Vessey Jr. received a battlefield commission during the Battle of Anzio in World War II.

The General also served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

When he became Lieutenant Colonel, John graduated from college in 1963 at the age of 41.

John was a student at the Army helicopter school at the age of 48, as a Colonel

During 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.

Vessey Jr. was the last four star combat veteran of World War II on active service.

When he retired from the Army, General Vessey became involved in efforts to account for military personnel listed as missing in action from the Vietnam War.

Vessey Jr. made several trips to Vietnam to search for remains as part of resolving the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue.

the General was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992.

John William Vessey Jr. passed away at 94 years old.