James D. Thurman

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James D. Thurman

LTG James D. Thurman
Place of birth	Marietta, Oklahoma
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1975-present
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	V Corps 4th Infantry Division
Awards	Legion of Merit (3) Silver Star

Lieutenant General James D. Thurman is the former commanding general of United States V Corps in Heidelberg, Germany.

General Thurman is a native of Marietta, Oklahoma, United States. He received a Bachelor of Arts in History from East Central University and a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University. LTG Thurman received a Regular Army Commission from the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1975.

Lieutenant General Thurman began his career in the 4th Infantry Division serving as Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Motor Officer for 6th Battalion, 32d Armor. LTG Thurman has commanded at all levels from Company to Brigade. After attending the Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course, he commanded the Aero-Scout Platoon and later became the Operations Officer, A Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry,82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. From 1981-1982, he attended the Armor Officer Advanced Course, United States Armor School, Fort Knox, Kentucky. Upon completion, LTG Thurman attended the AH-64 Aviator Qualification Course, United States Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama. LTG Thurman then served as Executive Officer, 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. During 1989-1991, Lieutenant General Thurman served as Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 32d Armor, 1st Cavalry Division and Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia. LTG Thurman’s previous assignments also include Commander of 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment; 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany; Commander, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Georgia; Commander, Operations Group, United States Army National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California; Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Plans and Policy, Allied Forces Southern Europe, Regional Command South, Italy; Commanding General, National Training Center and Fort Irwin, Fort Irwin, California; Director of Training, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3, United States Army; and Chief, Operations, Coalition Forces Land Component Command, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Camp Doha, Kuwait.

Lieutenant General Thurman departed Kuwait to become the Director, Army Aviation Task Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3, United States Army in Washington, D.C., where he remained until his arrival at Fort Hood.

Lieutenant General Thurman's awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal (one oak leaf cluster), the Legion of Merit (two oak leaf clusters), the Bronze Star , the Meritorious Service Medal (five oak leaf clusters), theArmy Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal (three oak leaf clusters). General Thurman is a Senior Army Aviator and has earned the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

On October 2, 2006, Thurman was nominated for promotion by President George W. Bush for appointment to the rank of Lieutenant General. His receipt of promotion and his third star was January 19, 2007. On December 19, 2006, Thurman took over assignment in Heidelberg, Germany as the commanding general of V Corps along with the U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army. He returned from the Iraq War with the 4th Infantry Division in November of 2006 after a second tour.