Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, Jr. graduated second in his class of 456 from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1939. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. Following service duty in Panama, he returned to the U.S. in mid-1942, and in 1943, he attended a wartime course at the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
During World War II, Goodpaster commanded the 48th Combat Engineer Battalion in North Africa and Italy. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and two Purple Hearts. He was severely wounded in January 1944 and returned to the US. He was assigned to the War Planning Office under General Marshall, where he served the duration of the war.
Goodpaster embodied, rather personified the mold of the "soldier-scholar." Earning a master's in engineering and a doctorate in international relations from Princeton in the late 40's. He received a Ph.D. in politics from Princeton University in 1950 after completing a doctoral dissertation titled "National technology and international politics." He later received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Princeton in 1979.
• Staff Secretary and Defense Liaison Officer to President Eisenhower (1954–1961)
• Advisor to the Administrations of Presidents Johnson (1963–1969), Nixon (1969–1974), and Carter (1977–1981)
• Commander of the San Francisco District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
• Commander of the 8th Infantry Division in Germany (1961–1962)
• Director of the Joint Staff, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1966–1967)
• Commandant of the National War College (1967–1968)
• Deputy Commander of the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) (1968–1969)
• Commander-in-Chief of United States European Command (CINCEUR) and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Forces, Europe (SACEUR) 1969–1974
• 51st Superintendent, United States Military Academy (USMA) (1977–1981)
Awards
• In January 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower awarded Goodpaster the Distinguished Service Medal for his work in the position of Staff Secretary to the President of the United States, and as Liaison Officer of the Department of Defense to the White House, 1954–1961, “for distinguished service in a position of grave responsibility.” This award was mistakenly identified in the original press release as the Medal of Freedom. Goodpaster was actually awarded the Distinguished Service Medal at this ceremony—the press release is in error. Goodpaster's copy of the press release has the words "Medal of Freedom" lined out, and "Distinguished Service Medal" written over it. As a serving US Army officer at the time, Goodpaster could not have received the Medal of Freedom, a civilian award. Eisenhower mentioned that he was amazed that the award had been kept a surprise; Goodpaster later joked that if he had known about it, the paperwork would have been correct.[12]
• At General Goodpaster's first retirement in 1974, President Gerald Ford awarded him the Defense Distinguished Service Medal.[13]
• In 1984, President Ronald Reagan awarded Goodpaster the Presidential Medal of Freedom “for his contributions in the field of international affairs.” This was the first and only award of this medal to Goodpaster.[14]
• In 1985, he received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Bernard W. Rogers, USA.[15]
• In 1992, he received the United States Military Academy Association of Graduates’ Distinguished Graduate Award.
• Cadet, United States Military Academy - 1 July 1935
• 2nd Lieutenant, Regular Army (RA) - 12 June 1939
• 1st Lieutenant, Army of the United States (AUS) - 9 September 1940
• Captain, AUS - 1 February 1942
• 1st Lieutenant, Regular Army - 12 June 1942
• Major, AUS - 29 October 1942
• Lieutenant Colonel, AUS - 23 June 1943
• Captain, RA - 1 July 1948
• Major, RA - 14 May 1951
• Colonel, AUS - 10 September 1952
• Brigadier General, AUS - 1 January 1957
• Lieutenant Colonel, RA - 22 March 1957
• Major General, AUS - 1 August 1956
• Lieutenant General, AUS - 27 January 1964
• Colonel, RA - 12 June 1964
• Brigadier General, RA - 30 January 1966
• General, AUS - c. June 1968
• General, Retired List - c. December 1974 [16]
Note - During and after World War II officers with temporary commissions were commissioned in the Army of the United States (AUS) whereas permanent commissions were in the United States Army (i.e. the Regular Army).
4-Star General's Dress White Class A Uniform.
#Leadership #Duty #LifelongLearning #PurpleHeart
Awarded for Actions in World War II to Lt. Colonel Andrew J. Goodpaster.
Battalion: 48th Engineer Combat Battalion
GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, U.S. Army-Mediterranean Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 28 (1946)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Corps of Engineers) Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, Jr. (ASN: 0-21739), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, 48th Engineer Combat Battalion, in action against enemy forces in Italy on 29 to 30 January 1944. In the effort to seize Cassino, after three failed attempts to cross the Rapido River with corduroy bridged, Colonel Goodpaster was ordered to find a way to get tanks across the river. On the morning of 29 January 1944, he used a streambed as a road for about 1,500 yards to bring the tanks out, well positioned for an attack on the high ground northeast of Cassino. The plan was for the tanks to enter the stream about 3,000 yards north of Cassino where the Germans had blown a bridge. To insure that the plan was feasible, Colonel Goodpaster personally conducted a night reconnaissance on a route that was largely exposed and probably heavily mined. While his Engineers prepared the entry site he completed his reconnaissance and on his return encountered the lead tank. Colonel Goodpaster led the tank the remainder of the way as artillery and sniper fire increased, and the tank set off anti-personnel mines. The tank, from the 756th Tank Battalion, thereby made the first successful tank crossing of the Rapido River and, with the infantry, launched a successful attack resulting in a major penetration of the Gustav Line. Lieutenant Colonel Goodpaster's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
GENERAL ORDERS:
United States Military Academy Register of Graduates
CITATION:
The Secretary of Defense of the United States of America has presented the Defense Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant General Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, Jr. (ASN: 0-21739), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility, during the period from 1969 to 1974.
Division: U.S. Military Academy
GENERAL ORDERS:
United States Military Academy Register of Graduates
CITATION:
The Secretary of Defense of the United States of America has presented a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant General Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, Jr. (ASN: 0-21739), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, during the period from 1977 to 1981.
Division: President of the United States
GENERAL ORDERS:
Department of the Army, General Orders No. 3 (February 14, 1961)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, Jr. (ASN: 0-21739), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Staff Secretary to the President of the United States from 1954 to 1961.
Division: Joint Chiefs of Staff
GENERAL ORDERS:
Department of the Army, General Orders No. 23 (May 29, 1967)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant General Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, Jr. (ASN: 0-21739), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, during the period from November 1962 to April 1967.
Division: Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
GENERAL ORDERS:
United States Military Academy Register of Graduates
Lieutenant General Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, Jr. (ASN: 0-21739), United States Army, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Deputy Commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, in the Republic of Vietnam, from 1968 to 1969.
Division: European Command
GENERAL ORDERS:
United States Military Academy Register of Graduates
Lieutenant General Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, Jr. (ASN: 0-21739), United States Army, was awarded a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commander-in-Chief Europe and Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 1969 to 1974.
GENERAL ORDERS:
United States Military Academy Register of Graduates
General Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, Jr. (ASN: 0-21739), United States Army, was awarded a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, during the period from 1977 to 1981.
Division: European Command
GENERAL ORDERS:
United States Military Academy Register of Graduates
Lieutenant General Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, Jr. (ASN: 0-21739), United States Army, was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commander-in-Chief Europe and Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 1969 to 1974.
Division: European Command
GENERAL ORDERS:
United States Military Academy Register of Graduates
Lieutenant General Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, Jr. (ASN: 0-21739), United States Army, was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commander-in-Chief Europe and Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 1969 to 1974.
Awarded for Actions During World War II to Lieutenant Colonel Goodpaster.
Battalion: 48th Engineer Combat Battalion
GENERAL ORDERS: Headquarters, II Corps, General Orders No. 9 (1944)
Lieutenant Colonel (Corps of Engineers) Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, Jr. (ASN: 0-21739), United States Army, was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, 48th Engineer Combat Battalion, in action during World War II.
Battalion: 48th Engineer Combat Battalion
GENERAL ORDERS:
United States Military Academy Register of Graduates
Lieutenant Colonel (Corps of Engineers) Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, Jr. (ASN: 0-21739), United States Army, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer, 48th Engineer Combat Battalion, from 1943 to 1944.
GENERAL ORDERS:
United States Military Academy Register of Graduates
Colonel (Corps of Engineers) Andrew Jackson Goodpaster, Jr. (ASN: 0-21739), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from 1944 to 1947.
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