Green Service uniform

Lieutenant General John A. Heintges was born December 9, 1912.

After graduation from school he was commissioned a second Lieutenant (1936). He assumed command of the45th Infantry of the Philippine Scouts (1937-1939). After an Officer's course (1939-1940), he served as a company commander and regimental S3 of the 13th Infantry, 8th Division at Fort Jackson, South Carolina (1940-1942).

During WWII he served as battalion and the regimental commander with the 3d (Rock of the Marne) Infantry Division in the battles of Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. His 7th United States Infantry had the distinction of capturing Hitler's last stronghold in and around Berchresgaden (1945).

Following graduation from the U.S. Military and Academy and Army War College, he served in the G3 section of the Army Field Forces (1946-1953); Chief, Army Section, U.S. Military Assistance Group, Germany and was given the mission of preparing and implementing the training plan for the German Army; with the U.S. Army Element, Pacific Command on detached service in Laos during those critical days when the guerrilla insurgency in that country flared into the open. (1959-1961); Director of Organization and Training, Office of the Deputy of Chief of Staff for Military Operations, Department of the Army (1961-1962).

After other assignments in the U.S. he was promoted to Lieutenant General and was assigned as Commanding General, 1 Corps (Group) in Korea, shortly after was assigned to Deputy Commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (1965) then ultimately as DEPCINCUSAREUR for the 7th Army in Heidelberg, Germany.

His medals include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Legion of Merit (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star (Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, V Device), Air Medal (12 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Distinguishes Unit Citation (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), French Fourragere, French Croix de Guerre (with Palm).

Lieut. Gen. John A. Heintges died on Thursday June 4, 1944 at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver. He was 81 and lived in Colorado Springs.