Thanks be to Men and Women like General Van Fleet.
At the time of his retirement from active duty in 1953, former
President Harry S. Truman said "General Van Fleet is the greatest
general we have ever had . . . I sent him to Greece and he won the
war. I sent him to Korea and he won the war."
Van Fleet was the recipient of three Distinguished Service
Crosses (the U.S. Army's second highest award for bravery in
combat), three Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars, three Purple
Hearts for wounds received in combat, and his most prized
possession—the Combat Infantryman's Badge of the common foot
soldier.
Van Fleet died in his sleep on his ranch outside Polk City,
Florida on September 23, 1992, several months after celebrating his
100th birthday in 1992. He was the oldest living general officer in
the United States at the time of his death.
List of Awards;
Distinguished Service Cross with two Oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Service Medal with three Oak leaf clusters
Silver Star with two Oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star with two Oak leaf clusters
Purple Heart with two Oak leaf clusters
World War I Victory Medal
American Defense Service Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge