This article or section includes a list of references or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. You can improve this article by introducing more precise citations.

James Alward Van Fleet (March 19, 1892 - September 23, 1992) was a U.S. Army general during World War II and the Korean War. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 78th day of the year (79th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Polk City is a town located in Polk County, Florida. ... The 6th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I, World War II, and the last years of the Cold War. ... Constituted 5 July 1838 in the Regular Army as the 8th Infantry Organized in July 1838 in New York, Vermont, and Michigan Consolidated in May 1869 with the 33d Infantry (see ANNEX) and consolidated unit designated as the 8th Infantry Assigned 17 December 1917 to the 8th Division Relieved 24... A military division: Infantry Australian 4th Division British 4th Division (World War I) British 4th Infantry Division Indian 4th Infantry Division US 4th Infantry Division Armour Canadian 4th Armoured Division US 4th Armored Division Cavalry British 4th Cavalry Division This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists... The 90th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. // Activated: August 1917. ... List of military corps — List of military corps by number A number of countries have Third, or III, Corps: Australian III Corps III Corps (Grande Armée) (French Corps during the Napoleonic Wars) III Corps (France) (French Corps during World War I and II) British III Corps Finnish III Corps... Second United States Army was formed October 15, 1918 during World War I. It functioned as a training and administrative headquarters until being inactivated 15 April 1919. ... The Eighth US Army—often abbreviated EUSA—(the acronym EUSA was deemed unauthorized by LTG Charles Campbell in 2002) is the commanding formation of all US Army troops in South Korea. ... The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ... The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army which is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility. ... The Silver Star is the fourth highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... For other meanings see Purple Heart (disambiguation). ... is the 78th day of the year (79th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders...

Van Fleet was born in Coytesville, New Jersey and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1915 as part of a class that contained many future generals, and which military historians have called, "The class the stars fell on". He was a classmate of both Dwight D. Eisenhower and Omar Bradley. Upon graduation, he became an infantry officer. “USMA” redirects here. ... The class the stars fell on is an expression used to describe the West Point class of 1915. ...

He served as a battalion commander in World War I, as part of the American Expeditionary Force under General John J. Pershing. “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Officers of the American Expeditionary Forces and the Baker mission The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF was the United States military force sent to Europe in World War I.(In France, AEF is a news agency specialised in Education and Formation) The AEF fought alongside allied forces against imperial German... John Joseph Black Jack Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was an officer in the United States Army. ...

He coached the University of Florida football team in 1923 and 1924. He led the team into national prominence with a 12-3-4 record. The University of Florida (Florida, UFL, or UF) is a public land-grant, space-grant, research university located in Gainesville, Florida. ... A football team is the collective name given to a number of players who play together in a football game, be it American football, Association football (soccer), Australian rules football, Canadian football, Brazilian football, Gaelic football, Rugby league, Rugby union, or other version of football. ...

Van Fleet commanded the 8th Infantry Regiment for three years and led it into combat in Europe in World War II, participating in the D-Day landings on Utah Beach in June 1944. Although widely regarded as an outstanding officer, he was blocked from promotion because the Army Chief of Staff, General George Marshall, erroneously confused Van Fleet with a well-known alcoholic officer with a similar name. When Marshall learned of his mistake, Van Fleet was soon promoted to divisional and corps command. He later served with General George S. Patton's U.S. Third Army. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Land on Normandy In military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. ... Combatants United States Germany Commanders Raymond O. Barton Theodore Roosevelt Jr U.S. 4th Infantry Division Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben Dietrich Kraiss German 352nd Infantry Division German 709th Infantry Division Strength 32,000  ? Casualties 700 Unknown American assault troops move onto Utah Beach, carrying full equipment. ... For other persons named George Marshall, see George Marshall (disambiguation). ... George Smith Patton Jr. ... Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the U.S. Third Army. ...

In 1946, Van Fleet was sent to Greece, where he was instrumental for the outturn of Greek Civil War by providing 400 napalm bombs that were dropped.

Van Fleet was Commanding General of the U.S. Second Army from August 10, 1950 to April 11, 1951. Second United States Army was formed October 15, 1918 during World War I. It functioned as a training and administrative headquarters until being inactivated 15 April 1919. ...

In 1951, he replaced General Matthew B. Ridgway as commander of the U.S. Eighth Army and United Nations forces in Korea. He continued Ridgway's efforts to strengthen the Eighth Army in its campaign against numerically superior communist foes. He lost his only son, an Air Force officer, in the Korean War. Matthew Bunker Ridgway (March 3, 1895 - July 26, 1993) was a United States Army general. ... The Eighth US Army—often abbreviated EUSA—(the acronym EUSA was deemed unauthorized by LTG Charles Campbell in 2002) is the commanding formation of all US Army troops in South Korea. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders...

In 1957, General Van Fleet was the moving spirit behind the establishment in New York of the Korea Society, the first nonprofit organization in the U.S. dedicated to the promotion of friendly relations between the peoples of the United States and Korea "through mutual understanding and appreciation of their respective cultures, aims, ideals, arts, sciences and industries." The Korea Society is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization with individual and corporate members that is dedicated solely to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding and cooperation between the people of the United States and Korea. ...

Van Fleet died in 1992 in Polk City, Florida several months after reaching his 100th birthday. He was the oldest living general officer in the United States. Van Fleet was buried in Section 7 of Arlington National Cemetery. Polk City is a town located in Polk County, Florida. ... A centenarian is a person who has attained the age of 100 years or more. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Shortly after his death, The Korea Society established its annual James A. Van Fleet Award to recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to closer U.S.-Korea ties. The Gen. James A. Van Fleet State Trail, running from Polk City, Florida to Mabel, Florida, is also named in his honor. The Korea Society is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization with individual and corporate members that is dedicated solely to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding and cooperation between the people of the United States and Korea. ... The General James A. Van Fleet Award, given annually since 1995 by The Korea Society, is awarded “to one or more distinguished Koreans or Americans in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the promotion of U.S.-Korea relations. ...

Van Fleet's papers were donated to the George C. Marshall Foundation, and are the second largest collection of papers held by the foundation, after George C. Marshall. The George C. Marshall Foundation, located in Lexington, Virginia, is a library, archive, and museum dedicated to honor the memory and work of George Catlett Marshall. ... For other persons named George Marshall, see George Marshall (disambiguation). ...

In July 2001 a biography entitled "WILL TO WIN: The Life of General James A. Van Fleet," by Paul F. Braim, was published by the Naval Institute Press. The United States Naval Institute is a non-profit, professional organization in the United States related to the Navy. ...

Awards and decorations

• Distinguished Service Cross with two Oak leaf clusters
• Distinguished Service Medal with three Oak leaf clusters
• Silver Star with two Oak leaf clusters
• Bronze Star with two Oak leaf clusters
• Purple Heart with two Oak leaf clusters
• World War I Victory Medal
• American Defense Service Medal
• European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Korean Service Medal
• Combat Infantryman Badge
• United Nations Service Medal

The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. ... Bronze and Silver oak leaf clusters An Oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on military awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. ... The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army which is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility. ... The Silver Star is the fourth highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces. ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... For other meanings see Purple Heart (disambiguation). ... The World War I Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was first created in 1919. ... The American Defense Service Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created in 1941 by Executive Order of President Franklin Roosevelt. ... The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is a miliary decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created in 1942 by Executive Order of President Franklin Roosevelt. ... WWII Victory Medal The World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. ... Ribbon for the National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. ... The Korean Service Medal is a decoration of the United States military and was created in November 1950 by order of President Harry Truman. ... The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is an award of the United States Army which is presented to those officers, warrant officers and enlisted soldiers, in the grade of Colonel and below, who participate in active ground combat while assigned as a member of an infantry or special forces unit, brigade... The United Nations Service Medal is an international military decoration which was established by the United Nations on December 12, 1950. ...

External links

• James Alward Van Fleet
• Van Fleet Biography from US DOD Korean War 50th Anniversary Site
• "WILL TO WIN: The Life of General James A. Van Fleet"
• One of the "Top 50 Most Important Floridians of the 20th Century," as voted by The Ledger
• The Korea Society
• Gen. James A. Van Fleet State Trail, Florida

The Ledger is a daily newspaper serving Lakeland, Florida and the Polk County area. ...

References

• Obituary, Los Angeles Times, September 24, 1992, p. A28
• Obituary, New York Times, September 24, 1992, p. D24

See also

• Report of Van Fleet mission to the Far East, 1954
• List of Korean War veterans who are recipients of the Bronze StarFleet, James van