James J. Lindsay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James J. Lindsay
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Lindsay in 1986
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| Birth name | James Joseph Lindsay |
| Born | October 10, 1932 Portage, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | August 5, 2023 (aged 90) Vass, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1952–1990 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment U.S. Special Operations Command XVIII Airborne Corps 82nd Airborne Division |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (4) |
James Joseph Lindsay (October 10, 1932 – August 5, 2023) was a United States Army four-star general, and served as the first commander of the United States Special Operations Command.
Contents
Military career
Lindsay's military career began when he enlisted in the Army in 1952. He graduated from the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School in May 1953 as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Army Language School (German and Russian) the US Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the National War College. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Master of Science degree in Foreign Affairs from George Washington University.
Lindsay commanded units at all levels, from platoon through MACOM, in both peacetime and war. His first assignments were with the 82nd Airborne Division, 7th Special Forces Group and Military Intelligence. Within the 82nd Airborne Division he held eight assignments, from platoon to division level. During the Vietnam War, he was an advisor to the Vietnamese Airborne Brigade, commanded the 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division and was the G3 (Assistant Chief-of-Staff, Operations and Plans) for the 9th Infantry Division.
As a general, Lindsay commanded the 82nd Airborne Division, the United States Army Infantry School, the XVIII Airborne Corps, the United States Readiness Command, and was the first Commander in Chief, United States Special Operations Command. General Lindsay retired July 1, 1990.
Post military
In retirement, Lindsay founded the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation in 1990. He served as a senior mentor for the Army's Battle Command Training Program (BCTP) from 1990 to 2009. He was inducted into both the United States Army Ranger Hall of Fame and the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. He was the 1996 recipient of the National Infantry Association's Doughboy Award and the 1998 recipient of the United States Special Operations Command's Bull Simons Award.
Personal life and death
Lindsay and his wife, Gerry, lived in Vass, North Carolina. Their children included Steven, Michael, Kevin, and Barbara.
James J. Lindsay died on August 5, 2023, at the age of 90.
Awards and decorations
Distinguished Service Cross
Commendations
General Lindsay's awards and decorations include:
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| Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | |||||||||||
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| 1st Row | Distinguished Service Cross | |||||||||||
| 2nd Row | Distinguished Service Medal | Silver Star with 3 Oak leaf clusters |
Legion of Merit | |||||||||
| 3rd Row | Bronze Star with "V" device and 3 Oak leaf clusters |
Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster |
Air Medal with Award numeral 9 |
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| 4th Row | Joint Service Commendation Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster |
Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster |
Army of Occupation Medal | |||||||||
| 5th Row | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star |
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Vietnam Service Medal with 1 silver and 1 bronze Campaign stars |
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| 6th Row | Army Service Ribbon | Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with palm and 1 Gold Star |
Vietnam Campaign Medal with "60-" clasp |
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| Badges | Master Parachutist Badge with 2 combat jump stars |
Air Assault Badge | Ranger Tab | |||||||||
| Badges | 505th Infantry Regiment distinctive unit insignia |
British Parachutist Badge | Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | |||||||||
| Unit awards | Army Presidential Unit Citation | Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation | |||||||||
