John E. Cleckner, Sr.

Major John E. Cleckner, Sr. was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Infantry Officer Candidate School Class 1-66, 14 January 1966. His first duty assignment was at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Operations Officer S3, 1st Battalion, 504th Airborne Infantry Battalion, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division. Operations Officer S3 and Headquarters Commander, 2nd Battalion, 508th Airborne Infantry Battalion, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division. Operations Officer S3, 2nd Battalion, 6th United States Army Infantry Battalion, McNair Barracks, Berlin Brigade, Berlin Germany, Senior Aide-de-Camp to United States Commander Berlin, Major General William Cobb. | Major John E. Cleckner, Sr. is a graduate of Airborne School, Special Forces Officer Course and has earned five college degrees (2 with honors). | His military awards include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Special Forces Tab, Special Forces Combat Patch, American Master Parachutist Wings, Vietnamese Master Parachutist Wings, Soldier’s Medal for Heroism, Bronze Star Medal for Valor, Bronze star Medal for Meritorious Service with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/ two Silver Stars, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal for Berlin Germany, Armed Force Expeditionary Medal w/ Bronze Star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Vietnam Honor Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/ six campaign stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal He also earned an Expert Marksmanship Badge for various weapons systems, Presidential Unit Citation, Army Meritorious Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Civic Action Honor Medal Unit Citation and has been inducted into the Order of St. Philip Neri the Ohio Military Hall of Fame and the Green Beret Hall of Fame.