John L. Throckmorton
Encyclopedia
General John Lathrop Throckmorton (February 28, 1913–February 13, 1986) was born in Kansas City, Missouri
on February 28, 1913. After graduating from Culver Military Academy in 1931 he attended and graduated from the United States Military Academy
on June 12, 1935, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry.
In World War II, he was assigned to the G3 Section, First Army in the European Theater from 1943 to 1946. After the war, he served in the TAC Department at West Point from 1946 to 1949. He took command of a battalion in the 5th Regimental Combat Team
in Hawaii from 1949 to 1950 and later became the regimental combat team commander from 1950 to 1951 during the Korean War
. After the war, he attended the National War College
in 1954, and later became Commandant of Cadets at West Point from 1956 to 1959.
He served from 1959 to 1960 as Assistant Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division
, followed by an assignment as Secretary General Staff, Office of the Chief of Staff Army from 1960 to 1962.
He took command of the 82nd Airborne Division from 1962 to 1964, then deployed to Vietnam as Deputy Commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
, from 1964 to 1965. His service in Vietnam was followed by an assignment as Deputy Commander, Office of the Chief Army Reserve from 1965 to 1966.
Throckmorton also served a tour of duty in 1967, commanding the Armed Forces during the Battle of Detroit in 1967.
He held successive commands as Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps (1967); Commanding General, Third United States Army, (1967–1969); and Commander in Chief, United States Strike Command
, (1969–1973).
General Throckmorton retired in Fayetteville, North Carolina
in 1973. He died on February 13, 1986 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
next to his wife, Regina Theresa Higgins, whom he married on October 16, 1937. The library at Fort Bragg is named in his honor.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
on February 28, 1913. After graduating from Culver Military Academy in 1931 he attended and graduated from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
on June 12, 1935, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry.
In World War II, he was assigned to the G3 Section, First Army in the European Theater from 1943 to 1946. After the war, he served in the TAC Department at West Point from 1946 to 1949. He took command of a battalion in the 5th Regimental Combat Team
5th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 5th Infantry Regiment is the third-oldest infantry regiment of the United States Army, tracing its origins to 1808...
in Hawaii from 1949 to 1950 and later became the regimental combat team commander from 1950 to 1951 during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. After the war, he attended the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
in 1954, and later became Commandant of Cadets at West Point from 1956 to 1959.
He served from 1959 to 1960 as Assistant Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
, followed by an assignment as Secretary General Staff, Office of the Chief of Staff Army from 1960 to 1962.
He took command of the 82nd Airborne Division from 1962 to 1964, then deployed to Vietnam as Deputy Commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
The U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, MACV, , was the United States' unified command structure for all of its military forces in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.-History:...
, from 1964 to 1965. His service in Vietnam was followed by an assignment as Deputy Commander, Office of the Chief Army Reserve from 1965 to 1966.
Throckmorton also served a tour of duty in 1967, commanding the Armed Forces during the Battle of Detroit in 1967.
United States Strike Command
In 1961 the United States Strike Command was established at MacDill Air Force Base as a unified combatant command capable of responding to global crises. The name of the command was originally derived from the acronym for Swift Tactical Reaction In Every Known Environment...
, (1969–1973).
General Throckmorton retired in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
in 1973. He died on February 13, 1986 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
next to his wife, Regina Theresa Higgins, whom he married on October 16, 1937. The library at Fort Bragg is named in his honor.