Former chairman honored with Vessey Hall dedication

FORT SILL, Okla., May 11, 2017 -- The 95th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception) building is now known as Vessey Hall, following a dedication ceremony May 4.

Gen. John Vessey Jr. was the 10th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and served under President Reagan from June 1982 to September 1985.

Vessey, who died in August 2016, at the age of 94, served in several capacities at Fort Sill after the end of World War II, including the Field Artillery School from 1949-1950; battery officer, then battery commander, 18th Field Artillery from 1950-1951; and as a student in the Artillery Officer Advanced Course, Artillery and Guided Missile School, 1954-1955.

Nearly 30 years later, he returned to Fort Sill as deputy assistant commandant, Field Artillery Center and School.

Vessey joined the Minnesota National Guard in 1939 at the age of 16 as a motorcycle rider after lying about his age, and served in World War II in North Africa and Italy with the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division.

During an intense battle on Anzio Beachhead, he was given a battlefield commission from first sergeant to 2nd lieutenant, and directed artillery fire as a forward observer.

Several distinguished guests spoke of the man they called "the Soldier's Soldier," including retired Gen. Dennis Reimer, a Medford, Okla. native. Reimer was the 33rd Army Chief of Staff when he retired in 1999.

Reimer also served at Fort Sill as deputy assistant commandant, Field Artillery Center and School, from 1983 to 1984; and as commanding general, III Corps Artillery, from 1984 to 1986.

Reimer considered Vessey a mentor.

"Nobody else has ever gone from private E-1 to chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff," he said. "He is truly an American hero. He has led the military through tough times and good times and left it much better than he found it."

Vessey went to helicopter school when he was 48 years old, twice the age of most of his classmates, said Reimer. It took 27 years for Vessey to attain the rank of brigadier general, another five to reach major general, and two years later he wore four stars on his epaulet.

After his stint as chairman of Joint Chiefs, he was instrumental in getting bodies of Soldiers missing-in-action brought back from Vietnam.

Reimer said the first time he encountered Vessey's name, he was serving as aide de camp to Gen. Creighton Abrams.

After reviewing an assignment list for 12 general officers, Abrams crossed out the name assigned to the 4th Infantry Division.

"He wrote 'Jack Vessey -- he's a Soldier!'" Reimer said that made an impression on him, and he asked to be assigned to 4th Infantry for his next duty. "It was like being in a leadership lab 24 hours a day," he said of his experience there.

After Reimer became Army Chief of Staff, he received invaluable advice and counsel from Vessey. He also researched Vessey's speeches.

"What you saw in those speeches was the man himself. He was plain spoken. He understood Soldiers. He often quoted Marshall Dillon from 'Gunsmoke' who said 'It's a risky job and sometimes a little lonely.'"

He said Vessey was also a man of faith, and had a good sense of humor.

"He took time, even when he was chairman of the Joint Chiefs, to read the Bible every day. He lived his faith, didn't have to talk about it." Reimer also said, "He lived the Army Values. He was not afraid to speak truth to power."

He said of the building being dedicated, "This is where the Army miracle starts. This is where the drill sergeants take these civilians and turn them into Soldiers. So, it is very fitting that is named after someone that started as a private E-1 and went all the way to the very top. Someone who exemplified the Army Values. Someone who set the standard for all Soldiers."

Vessey's daughter Sarah Vessey, with her two sons Sam Krawczyk, 27 and Evan Krawczyk, 23; all are from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. They unveiled the general's plaque hidden behind a red cloth, and then brought down the covering over the lettering at the top of the building.

Vessey, who joked that she is often known as "the general's daughter," said she hoped others would be inspired to emulate his character as a "quiet, firm, humble, stubborn, smart, thoughtful, ego-less, humorous" leader.

She spoke of the yin and yang of her father's life lessons, describing how he used the hot, dark fudge on a cold vanilla ice cream sundae to explain the meaning of life to his young grandsons.

"He explained the dark and the light, the highs and the lows, tying in the humor of life, resilience, perseverance, etcetera to make a complete whole."

She said for her, the yin was "I do not want really to be here speaking today. I would much rather be home with my dad chatting about the Minnesota Twins losing their game, sharing a meal, being ordered around to do chores, talking about my mom, or the grandkids, or world events."

The yang for her family is "We have the privilege of knowing that we can, and will, hold our heads high. That my father was a good guy, and now we get to share his story and be proud."

She said her parents came to Fort Sill in 1945 as newlyweds with her dad's 10-year-old brother.

She showed a telegram she had found in an old magazine. Now framed, the telegram was from Vessey asking for an extension of leave "so he could marry my mother before reporting to Fort Sill," she said to applause. Two of her brothers were later born here.

The telegram and other items relating to her father's career, including his medals, are on display inside Vessey Hall.

Retired Rear Adm. Donald Muchow delivered the invocation. Also in attendance was retired Maj. Gen. J. B. Burns, Vessey's former special assistant and speech writer.

The 77th Army Band played music of the Vietnam Era, relating to one of the most significant battles Vessey participated in -- the Battle of Suoi Tre, March 21, 1967.

Spc. Robert McMillan sang the national anthem and, with the band, the various songs of the armed services, until he was joined by the gathering for the singing of "The Army Song."

The joint color guard detail was provided by the 434th Field Artillery Brigade, with Staff Sgt. Nicholas Bogert serving as the noncommissioned officer-in-charge.

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