John A. Wickham, Jr.

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GEN John A. Wickham

General John Adams Wickham (born June 25, 1928 in Dobbs Ferry, New York) was United States Army Chief of Staff from 1983 to 1987.

He was a 1950 graduate of the United States Military Academy (where he later served as a social sciences instructor, 1956 to 1960). After graduation, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned to the 18th Infantry Regiment and then the 6th Infantry Regiment. He was as a platoon leader and company executive officer in the 511th Airborne Infantry Regiment and served as an aide-de-camp in the 37th and 10th Infantry Divisions. He received Master's Degrees in economics and in government from Harvard University and was a 1967 graduate of the National War College.

Wickham then served as the operations officer of the 1st Battle Group, 5th Cavalry, in Korea, and later commanded the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam, where he was seriously injured. He later commanded the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, then returned to Vietnam as the Deputy Chief of Staff, MACV. He then commanded the 101st Airborne Division and afterwards became Commander in Chief of the United Nations Command and of the United States Forces and Eighth Army.

In 1979, he played a leading role in calming political tensions after the assassination of South Korean President Park Chung Hee. He also served as senior military assistant to Secretaries of Defense Schlesinger and Rumsfeld. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan appointed him Chief of Staff of the United States Army.

He retired from the Army in 1987 after 37 years of active service. He was twice awarded the Silver Star for battlefield valor, as well as the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, 11 Air Medals and 4 Legions of Merit. He was named by Army Times as one of the ten leaders who most changed the Army. The Association of Graduates USMA presented him with the Distinguished Graduate Award in 2005.

General Wickham served as Town Council President in Sun City, Arizona and as an elder at his church. He served as Chairman of the Board for Honeywell Federal Systems and Nortel Federal Systems. He was named vice chairman for the United States-China National Committee and has served as a member of the Secretary of Defense Policy Board. He is also active in the United Way, and a member of the Alfalfa Club.