Rank Insignia Previous Honoree ID Next Honoree ID


   
honoree image
First Name: John

Last Name: Deane

Birthplace: San Francisco, CA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Middle Name: Russell



Date of Birth: 08 June 1919

Date of Death: 18 July 2013

Rank: General

Years Served: 1942 - 1977
John Russell Deane, Jr.

   
Graduate, U.S. Military Academy, Class of 1942

Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)
•  Korean War (1950 - 1953)
•  Vietnam War (1960 - 1973)

Biography:

John Russell Deane, Jr.
General, U.S. Army

John Russell Deane, Jr. was born on 8 June 1919 in San Francisco, CA. In 1937, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the 16th Infantry. After one year, he entered the U.S. Military Academy. Upon graduation from the Academy in the Class of 1942, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. His first assignment was with the 104th Infantry Division as a platoon leader. By the end of the war, he was a battalion commander.

From 1945-47 he held the position of Intelligence Officer in Europe and then returned to Washington, DC, to work in the Joint War Plans Division, Headquarters, Department of the Army.

In 1951, he became Executive Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. From this post, in 1952 he went to the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS. After graduation, he served as Chief of Plans in the Military Armistice Commission until 1954.

Returning to the U.S. in late 1954, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College. After graduation, he became Chief of Programs and Budget in the Office of the Chief, Research and Development, Headquarters, Department of the Army.

From 1958-1959, he attended the National War College. He then became Assistant to the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, Europe in Heidelberg, Germany. From February 1961 to June 1962, he was Commander of the 2nd Battle Group in Berlin. In December 1962, he returned to Washington as Assistant to the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, where he served as Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Deputy Director, Defense Research and Engineering). During this time, he attended the Harvard School of Business Administration, participating in the Advanced Management Program. On 16 August 1965, he became the Assistant Division Commander, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC.

In 1966, Deane had three different assignments in Vietnam. In February, he was assigned as Chief of Staff, Field Forces; in July, he became Assistant Division Commander, 1st Infantry Division; and in December he was assigned as Commanding General, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

From October 1967 to September 1968, Deane served as Director of Doctrine in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development, U.S. Army. From October 1968 to July 1970, he was the Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg.

In July 1972, he was appointed as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development, U.S. Army, where he served until August 1972, when he became the Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

On 12 February 1975, Deane was promoted to General and assumed command of the U.S. Army Materiel Development and Readiness Command.

General Deane retired from active service on 31 January 1977.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Distinguished Service Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Silver Star Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Legion of Merit with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal with Numeral 25
Joint Service Commendation Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars
National Order of Vietnam, 5th Class
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm
United Nations Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Army Aviator Badge
Master Parachutist Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (1st Award)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Brigadier General John Russell Deane, Jr. (ASN: 0-24835), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Infantry Division. Brigadier General Deane distinguished himself from 5 November 1966 to 18 November 1966 during combat operations near the Michelin Rubber Plantation. Upon learning that elements of a light infantry brigade were receiving intense hostile fire from a numerically superior Viet Cong force, Brigadier General Deane immediately flew into the battle area, conducted low level passes while receiving hostile fire and identified the positions of each ground element. After landing in an insecure landing zone, Brigadier General Deane walked with his leg in a cast to the command post of the forward infantry elements which were about 30 meters from the main Viet Cong force. Brigadier General Deane repeated this process four times on 5 November and was present with forward infantry elements during four major Viet Cong attacks which carried to within yards of his position. His presence with the forward infantry troops and his repeated flights over the battle area contributed immeasurably to the successful conclusion of the operation and extraction of the American forces involved. On 12 November, Brigadier General Deane was flying over combat operations when the battalion command group was hit with a claymore mine that immobilized it and caused difficulty for the command group in controlling the movement of their subordinate elements through the jungle. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Brigadier General Deane, while receiving intense hostile fire, assumed command and control of the battalion from his helicopter. Brigadier General Deane landed in an insecure landing zone near an infantry element and personally directed its movements. When Brigadier General Deane observed that a flanking patrol was approximately 1,000 meters behind the Viet Cong force and on the flank, he personally directed this small group into a clearing and, while receiving intense hostile fire, landed on four separate occasions and extracted all members of the group. Later in the day, he again landed under fire and extracted a wounded Sergeant Major and an Operations Officer from a nearby jungle clearing. On 18 November, Brigadier General Deane was flying at low level over the battle area when he monitored a radio message that a lieutenant and a small patrol were receiving hostile fire about 1,500 meters from the battalion landing zone. Brigadier General Deane immediately established radio contact with the patrol, determined that they had multiple casualties, utilized his helicopter as a gunship and conducted fifteen to twenty low-level passes while firing his personal weapon and door guns on the Viet Cong. After the insurgents withdrew, he remained in the area, vectored a company into contact with the patrol and skillfully directed the medical evacuation. Later Brigadier General Deane landed his helicopter deep in hostile territory to extract a helicopter crew which had been shot down by hostile ground fire near the headquarters of a Viet Cong division. Through the entire battle in Tay Ninh Province, Brigadier General Deane was present on or over the battlefield whenever any unit was in contact. He utilized his aircraft weapons system against the Viet Cong, personally directed innumerable small engagements, inflicted heavy casualties on the Viet Cong and saved countless American lives. Brigadier General Deane's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 6470 (November 23, 1966)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (2nd Award)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Brigadier General John Russell Deane, Jr. (ASN: 0-24835), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). Brigadier General Deane distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions from 9 to 25 January 1967, while Commanding the 173d Airborne Brigade during Operation CEDAR FALLS. Throughout this period, he boldly directed the brigade on search and destroy operations against fortified Viet Cong strongholds in the Iron Triangle. Unmindful of the dangers, General Deane flew daily missions in the immediate area of the most intense conflict to monitor the action from his command and control helicopter. Time and again, he selflessly exposed himself to hostile sniper fire and automatic weapons fire by landing on the ravaged battlefield to extract casualties, offer encouragement and provide tactical advice to his commanders. On one occasion, General Deane fearlessly ordered his pilot to land in a heavily booby trapped field to evacuate a wounded soldier. As the situation required, he personally directed artillery and air strikes in close support of his troops. Then, with complete disregard for his safety, he flew low over the insurgent positions to assess the damage and ensure that the enemy was not withdrawing undetected. Unrelenting in his determination and courage, General Deane would hover at treetop level to guide the ground units through the dense enemy-held jungle and often marked targets with smoke grenades. His unimpeachable valor and dynamic leadership immeasurably bolstered the morale of his men and inspired them to decisively defeat the Viet Cong in every engagement throughout Operation CEDAR FALLS. Brigadier General Deane's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his command, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1853 (April 22, 1967)

Death and Burial

General John Russell Deane, Jr. died on 18 July 2013 in Bangor, ME. He is buried at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery at West Point, Orange County, NY.



Honoree ID: 216   Created by: MHOH

Ribbons


Medals


Badges


Honoree Photos

honoree imagehonoree imagehonoree image

honoree imagehonoree image

honoree image

Remembrances


Tributes