James B. Vaught

Major General James B. Vaught was born in Conway, South Carolina, on 3 November 1926. Following graduation from high school, he attended the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina for two years. Later he received a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Georgia State College, Atlanta, Georgia, and a Master of Science Degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. His military career began when he enlisted in the Army in May 1945. Upon graduation from Officer Candidate School in February 1946, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. He then served for forty months as a company officer with various units in Europe. | During the Korean War, he served with the 34th Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division in Japan and Korea from January 1952 until May 1954.  He was later again assigned to Korea with the Eighth U.S. Army Headquarters in Seoul from January 1961 to May 1962. | Major General Vaught has had two tours of duty in the Republic of Vietnam. From August 1967 until April 1968 he was with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). On his second tour, from September 1970 until October 1971, he served first as a Senior U.S. Army Combat Developments Officer and later as Senior Advisor to the Vietnamese Airborne Forces. | His assignments in the United States have been varied and important, and include tours in the Pentagon, where he served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Office of the Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development. A Master Parachutist, Major General Vaught has served at a number of U.S. posts outside of Washington, including Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and the Third U.S. Army Headquarters at Fort McPherson, Georgia.  From 1971-1975 Major General Vaught’s tour of duty was at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as Commander of the 1st Corps Support Command (COSCOM); Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps, and later as Assistant Division Commander of the famous All American 82d Airborne Division. | On 14 August 1975, Major General Vaught became Chief of Staff, Allied Land Forces Southeastern Europe, a NATO Army Group Headquarters whose four-star U.S. Commander is responsible for conducting the land defense of Greece and Turkey. In war, the headquarters would command four filed Armies, 34 divisions and other troops totaling more than 750,000 soldiers. Major General Vaught assumed command of the 24th Infantry Division and Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield on 22 September, 1977. | His military education has been equally varied, including attendance at the National War College, Armed Forces Staff College, Command and General Staff College, the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Officer Candidate School, and Airborne and Ranger School. | General Vaught's military awards and decorations include: two awards of the Silver Star, three Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Soldiers Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal, six Air Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, and the Purple Heart Medal. Major General Vaught has twice been awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and lists among his foreign decorations two awards of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Silver Star and two awards of the Armed Forces Honor Medal 1st Class, also presented by the Republic of Vietnam.