Date of birth:

August 18th, 1917 (Rotterdam, the Netherlands)

Date of death:

1990

Nationality:

Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)

Jack van Golen was from 1937 to 1940 in training at the KMA (Royal Military Academy) in Breda. In 1937 he started as Kadet (Kadet) and was promoted 2e Luitenant (2nd Lieutenant) in 1940. After the german invasion he worked from 1940 until 1941 as Police Inspector in the Hague. In 1941 he escaped to England and was promoted 1e Luitenant (1st Lieutenant) in 1942. Between 1942 and 1943 het was involved in Counter Intelligence Operations in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal. From 1943 he acted as officer in the Prinses Irene Brigade with whom he landed in Normandy.

In 1945 he was trained at the British Military Academy and from 1946 until 1950 he was ranked Kapitein (Captain) and acted as Brigade Major in the Dutch East Indies/Indonesia. He took part in the 1st and 2nd Politionele Actions on West Java (7 December Division).
Between 1950 and 1952 he attended the Higher Military School and after that became Head Operations with the Dutch 1st Army Corps until 1955 with the rank of Majoor (Major - 1953). Between 1955 and 1958 he was a member of the Nato Staff- Northern Army Group. In 1958 (then ranked Luitenant Kolonel - Lieutenant Colonel) he became Head Personnel with the Dutch 4th Division and in 1960 Commanding officer with the Infantry School and chairman of the NATO Taskforce Armoured Infantry in Paris. In 1966, then Kolonel (Colonel - 1963) van Golen became Chief of Staff with the Mobile Corps. During the building of AFCENT het was the Dutch governemental representative and in 1968 he became Territorial Commander South. Jack van Golen retired in 1970 and stayed in touch with the military as Head Civil Coworkership AFCENT.

After the Second World War he was awarded the Kruis voor Orde en Vrede met de gespen:1946 - 1947- 1948 - 1949 (Cross for War and Peace), Officiers Trouwe Dienstkruis (Officers Faithfull Cervice Cross), het Vierdaagsekruis (Four Day Marches Cross) en NOC medaille in brons (Dutch Olympic Commitee Medal in Bronze).

He died in 1990.

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• Photo 1: Roel Rijks
• - HEUVEL, C.C. VAN DEN e.a., Verzetsherdenkingskruis, Samsom Uitgeverij, 1985.
  - Roel Rijks