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James J. Lindsay

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James J. Lindsay
Lindsay in 1986
Born(1932-10-10)October 10, 1932
Portage, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedAugust 6, 2023(2023-08-06) (aged 90)
Vass, North Carolina, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1952–1990
RankGeneral
CommandsUnited States Special Operations Command
United States Readiness Command
XVIII Airborne Corps
United States Army Infantry School
82nd Airborne Division
2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment
Battles / warsVietnam War
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star (4)
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal (4)

James Joseph Lindsay (October 10, 1932 – August 6, 2023) was a United States Army four-star general,[1] and served as the first commander of the United States Special Operations Command.

Military career

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Lindsay's military career began when he enlisted in the Army in 1952. He graduated from the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School in May 1953 as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Army Language School (German and Russian) the US Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the National War College. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Master of Science degree in Foreign Affairs from George Washington University.

Lindsay commanded units at all levels, from platoon through MACOM, in both peacetime and war. His first assignments were with the 82nd Airborne Division, 7th Special Forces Group and Military Intelligence. Within the 82nd Airborne Division he held eight assignments, from platoon to division level. During the Vietnam War, he was an advisor to the Vietnamese Airborne Brigade, commanded the 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division and was the G3 (Assistant Chief-of-Staff, Operations and Plans) for the 9th Infantry Division.

As a general, Lindsay commanded the 82nd Airborne Division, the United States Army Infantry School, the XVIII Airborne Corps,[2] the United States Readiness Command,[3] and was the first Commander in Chief, United States Special Operations Command.[4] General Lindsay retired July 1, 1990.[5]

Post military

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In retirement, Lindsay founded the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation in 1990. He served as a senior mentor for the Army's Battle Command Training Program (BCTP) from 1990 to 2009. He was inducted into both the United States Army Ranger Hall of Fame and the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. He was the 1996 recipient of the National Infantry Association's Doughboy Award and the 1998 recipient of the United States Special Operations Command's Bull Simons Award.

Personal life and death

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Lindsay and his wife, Gerry, lived in Vass, North Carolina.[5] Their children included Steven, Michael, Kevin, and Barbara.

James J. Lindsay died on August 5, 2023, at the age of 90.[6]

Awards and decorations

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Distinguished Service Cross

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James Joseph Lindsay
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division
Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 31 May to 4 June 1968
Entered service at: Portage, Wisconsin
Born: October 10, 1932, Portage, Wisconsin
G.O. No.: 461, February 10, 1969

Citation:

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 Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) James Joseph Lindsay (ASN: 0-75235), 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, 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division. Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions from 31 May to 4 June 1968 during an operation which located and destroyed three main force Viet Cong and North Vietnamese battalions in the Plain of Reeds. After two days of tracking the enemy, Colonel Lindsay accompanied his battalion as it was inserted by air into the flank of the communists. Immediately upon landing, his men were brought under extremely heavy automatic weapons and small arms fire from a nearby woodline. Moving from position to position under the hail of bullets, he directed his troops' fire and, once fire superiority had been gained, led an assault into the hostile bunker complex which destroyed sixty of the fortifications and forced the enemy to withdraw. He then entered his helicopter and flew low over the embattled area to direct the encirclement of the foe. Noticing a group of Viet Cong escaping across a small canal which had not yet been sealed off, he stopped them with hand grenades and rifle fire. After returning to the ground, he exposed himself to the vicious enemy fusillade to coordinate return fire which repelled the enemy's attempt to break the encirclement. While leading a sweep through the woodline early in the morning of 4 June, he surprised three Viet Cong whom he engaged and killed before they could inflict any casualties upon his men. Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay'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.[7]

Commendations

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General Lindsay's awards and decorations include:

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
V
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze star
Gold star
Badge Combat Infantryman Badge
1st Row Distinguished Service Cross
2nd Row Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star
with 3 Oak leaf clusters 		Legion of Merit
3rd Row Bronze Star
with "V" device and 3 Oak leaf clusters 		Meritorious Service Medal
with 1 Oak leaf cluster 		Air Medal
with Award numeral 9
4th Row Joint Service Commendation Medal
with 1 Oak leaf cluster 		Army Commendation Medal
with 1 Oak leaf cluster 		Army of Occupation Medal
5th Row National Defense Service Medal
with 1 Service star 		Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
with 1 silver and 1 bronze Campaign stars
6th Row Army Service Ribbon Vietnamese Gallantry Cross
with palm and 1 Gold Star 		Vietnam Campaign Medal
with "60-" clasp
Badges Master Parachutist Badge
with 2 combat jump stars 		Air Assault Badge Ranger Tab
Badges 505th Infantry Regiment
distinctive unit insignia 		British Parachutist Badge Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Unit awards Army Presidential Unit Citation Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation

References

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  1. ^ Wilmington Morning Star. "Fort Bragg commander tapped for higher post". September 26, 1986, p. 6C. Retrieved on June 25, 2013.
  2. ^ Times-News (Hendersonville, N.C.). "Medal Awarded". October 12, 1986, p. 1B. Retrieved on June 25, 2013.
  3. ^ Sarasota Herald-Tribune. "MacDill May Get Special Command, Lawmaker Says". January 28, 1987, p. YBTC. Retrieved on June 25, 2013.
  4. ^ Sarasota Herald-Tribune. "5 Killed as U.S. Cargo Plane Crashes in Public Exercise". July 2, 1987, p. 8A. Retrieved on June 25, 2013.
  5. ^ a b "James J. Lindsay: Executive Profile & Biography – Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. 15 September 2023.
  6. ^ "'One of our greatest': U.S. Special Operations Command retired Gen. James Lindsay dies at 90". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  7. ^ "James Joseph Lindsay". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
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