James J. Lindsay
Encyclopedia
General James Joseph Lindsay (born on October 10, 1932 in Portage, Wisconsin
) is a retired United States Army four star general, and served as the first commander of the United States Special Operations Command
.
Military career=
General Lindsay was born on Oct 10,1932 in Portage, Wisconsin. He enlisted in the Army in 1952 and graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School in May 1953 as a Second Lieutenant. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, The Army Language School (Russian and German), The United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the National War College. He holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of Nebraska (Omaha) and a Master of Science Degree from the George Washington University.
General Lindsay's command assignments range from platoon to MACOM. His early assignments were with the 82d Airborne Division, 77th Special Forces Group and military intelligence. He held eight different positions with the 82d Airborne from platoon to division level. In Vietnam, he served as an airborne battalion advisor and the operations advisor to the Vietnamese Airborne Brigade, commanded the 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry, and was the G3,9th Infantry Division.
As a General Officer, General Lindsay commanded the 82d Airborne Division, The Army Infantry School, and XVIII Airborne Corps. He also served as the Commander-in-Chief of United States Readiness Command and was the first Commander-in-Chief of United States Special Operations Command. General Lindsay retired on July 1 1990.
General Lindsay's awards and decorations include; The Distinguished Service Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, The Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star (with three oak leaf clusters), the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with "V" device (with three oak leaf clusters), Combat Infantryman's Badge, Master Parachutist's Badge (with 2 combat stars), Ranger Tab and Special Forces Tab.
Awards and decorations
General Lindsay’s awards and decorations include:
Post military
In retirement, Lindsay serves as president of the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation, and is a Senior Observer with the Army’s Battle Command Training Program. He sits on the Board of Advisors of the National Infantry Foundation. He was inducted into both the United States Army Ranger Hall of Fame and 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 Bull Simon Award.
General Lindsay and his wife Gerry live in Vass, North Carolina
, their children include: Steven Lindsay, Michael Lindsay, Kevin Lindsay, and Barbara Jacon; and their grandchildren: Erin Lindsay-Caulkins (deceased), Brittany Lindsay, Wayne Lindsay, Lindsay Patton, Tyler Jacon, Evan Lindsay, Michael Lindsay.
Portage, Wisconsin
Portage is a city in and the county seat of Columbia County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 10,662 at the 2010 census making it the largest city in Columbia County...
) is a retired United States Army four star general, and served as the first commander of the United States Special Operations Command
United States Special Operations Command
The United States Special Operations Command is the Unified Combatant Command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Commands of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense...
.
Military career=
General Lindsay was born on Oct 10,1932 in Portage, Wisconsin. He enlisted in the Army in 1952 and graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School in May 1953 as a Second Lieutenant. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, The Army Language School (Russian and German), The United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the National War College. He holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of Nebraska (Omaha) and a Master of Science Degree from the George Washington University.
General Lindsay's command assignments range from platoon to MACOM. His early assignments were with the 82d Airborne Division, 77th Special Forces Group and military intelligence. He held eight different positions with the 82d Airborne from platoon to division level. In Vietnam, he served as an airborne battalion advisor and the operations advisor to the Vietnamese Airborne Brigade, commanded the 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry, and was the G3,9th Infantry Division.
As a General Officer, General Lindsay commanded the 82d Airborne Division, The Army Infantry School, and XVIII Airborne Corps. He also served as the Commander-in-Chief of United States Readiness Command and was the first Commander-in-Chief of United States Special Operations Command. General Lindsay retired on July 1 1990.
General Lindsay's awards and decorations include; The Distinguished Service Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, The Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star (with three oak leaf clusters), the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with "V" device (with three oak leaf clusters), Combat Infantryman's Badge, Master Parachutist's Badge (with 2 combat stars), Ranger Tab and Special Forces Tab.
Awards and decorations
General Lindsay’s awards and decorations include:
- Combat Infantryman BadgeCombat Infantryman BadgeThe Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
- Parachutist BadgeParachutist BadgeThe Parachutist Badge or Parachutist Brevet is a military badge awarded by the Armed Forces of most countries in the world to soldiers who receive the proper parachute training and accomplish the required number of jumps. It is difficult to assess which country was the first to introduce such award...
(2 jump stars) - Ranger TabRanger TabThe Ranger Tab is a service school military decoration of the United States Army signifying completion of the 61-day long Ranger School course in small-unit infantry combat tactics in woodland, mountain, and swamp operations. In December 2009 a British NCO earned the Ranger tab...
- British ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
Parachute Regiment - Special Forces TabSpecial Forces TabThe Special Forces Tab is a service school qualification tab of the United States Army, awarded to any soldier completing either the Special Forces Qualification Course, or the Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course , at the U.S. Army John F...
- British ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
Parachute Regiment P companyP companyPegasus Company is the rigorous training and selection organisation based at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick, North Yorkshire. P Coy run the 'pre-parachute selection' courses for trainee Parachute Regiment soldiers and officers as well as an all-arms course for Regular and Territorial... 
Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United States)The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
Army Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (United States)The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
with three oak leaf clusters
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
with Valor DeviceValor deviceThe Valor device is an award of the United States military which is a bronze attachment to certain medals to indicate that it was received for valor...
and three oak leaf clusters
Post military
In retirement, Lindsay serves as president of the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation, and is a Senior Observer with the Army’s Battle Command Training Program. He sits on the Board of Advisors of the National Infantry Foundation. He was inducted into both the United States Army Ranger Hall of Fame and Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. He was the 1996 recipient of the National Infantry Association
National Infantry Association
The National Infantry Association was established in 1994 as a professional association for Infantrymen and Infantry supporters. It was chartered as a private, non-profit, fraternal organization, to support the Infantry's role in the security of the United States, to assist Infantrymen in building...
’s Doughboy Award
Order of Saint Maurice
Order of Saint Maurice is awarded by the National Infantry Association and the certificate is signed by the Chief of Infantry of the United States Army...
, and the 1998 recipient of the United States Special Operations Command Bull Simon Award.
General Lindsay and his wife Gerry live in Vass, North Carolina
Vass, North Carolina
Vass is a town in Moore County, North Carolina in the United States. The population was 750 at the 2000 census. Vass grew up along the railroad in the late 19th century. It was originally named Bynum and later Winder before being established as Vass in 1892...
, their children include: Steven Lindsay, Michael Lindsay, Kevin Lindsay, and Barbara Jacon; and their grandchildren: Erin Lindsay-Caulkins (deceased), Brittany Lindsay, Wayne Lindsay, Lindsay Patton, Tyler Jacon, Evan Lindsay, Michael Lindsay.