Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

1st Battalion, 415th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division "Timberwolf", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

1944

"Maj. John R. DEANE, Jr., who at his own request led the I and R Platoon into enemy held territory, became involved in a fire fight in a strong defensive area manned by about sixty men. Maj. DEANE did not withdraw the platoon until the mission was accomplished and information radioed back to the Regiment, thus saving the entire First Battalion from ambush."

Headquarters, 104th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 19

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

Brigadier General

Unit:

Headquarters Company, HQ, 1st Infantry Division "The Big Red One", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

November 23rd, 1966

"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Brigadier General John Russell Deane, Jr. (ASN: 0-24835), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Infantry Division. Brigadier General Deane distinguished himself from 5 November 1966 to 18 November 1966 during combat operations near the Michelin Rubber Plantation. Upon learning that elements of a light infantry brigade were receiving intense hostile fire from a numerically superior Viet Cong force, Brigadier General Deane immediately flew into the battle area, conducted low level passes while receiving hostile fire and identified the positions of each ground element. After landing in an insecure landing zone, Brigadier General Deane walked with his leg in a cast to the command post of the forward infantry elements which were about 30 meters from the main Viet Cong force. Brigadier General Deane repeated this process four times on 5 November and was present with forward infantry elements during four major Viet Cong attacks which carried to within yards of his position. His presence with the forward infantry troops and his repeated flights over the battle area contributed immeasurably to the successful conclusion of the operation and extraction of the American forces involved. On 12 November, Brigadier General Deane was flying over combat operations when the battalion command group was hit with a claymore mine that immobilized it and caused difficulty for the command group in controlling the movement of their subordinate elements through the jungle. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Brigadier General Deane, while receiving intense hostile fire, assumed command and control of the battalion from his helicopter. Brigadier General Deane landed in an insecure landing zone near an infantry element and personally directed its movements. When Brigadier General Deane observed that a flanking patrol was approximately 1,000 meters behind the Viet Cong force and on the flank, he personally directed this small group into a clearing and, while receiving intense hostile fire, landed on four separate occasions and extracted all members of the group. Later in the day, he again landed under fire and extracted a wounded Sergeant Major and an Operations Officer from a nearby jungle clearing. On 18 November, Brigadier General Deane was flying at low level over the battle area when he monitored a radio message that a lieutenant and a small patrol were receiving hostile fire about 1,500 meters from the battalion landing zone. Brigadier General Deane immediately established radio contact with the patrol, determined that they had multiple casualties, utilized his helicopter as a gunship and conducted fifteen to twenty low-level passes while firing his personal weapon and door guns on the Viet Cong. After the insurgents withdrew, he remained in the area, vectored a company into contact with the patrol and skillfully directed the medical evacuation. Later Brigadier General Deane landed his helicopter deep in hostile territory to extract a helicopter crew which had been shot down by hostile ground fire near the headquarters of a Viet Cong division. Through the entire battle in Tay Ninh Province, Brigadier General Deane was present on or over the battlefield whenever any unit was in contact. He utilized his aircraft weapons system against the Viet Cong, personally directed innumerable small engagements, inflicted heavy casualties on the Viet Cong and saved countless American lives. Brigadier General Deane's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army."

Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 6470

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

Brigadier General

Unit:

Assistant Division Commander, HQ, 1st Infantry Division "The Big Red One", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

April 18th, 1967

"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General John Russell Deane, Jr. (ASN: 0-24835), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Assistant Division Commander, 1st Infantry Division in the Republic of Vietnam, during the period from January 1966 to November 1966."

Department of the Army, General Orders No. 18

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

Brigadier General

Unit:

173rd Airborne Brigade "Sky Soldiers", II Field Force Vietnam, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

April 22nd, 1967

"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Brigadier General John Russell Deane, Jr. (ASN: 0-24835), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). Brigadier General Deane distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions from 9 to 25 January 1967, while Commanding the 173d Airborne Brigade during Operation CEDAR FALLS. Throughout this period, he boldly directed the brigade on search and destroy operations against fortified Viet Cong strongholds in the Iron Triangle. Unmindful of the dangers, General Deane flew daily missions in the immediate area of the most intense conflict to monitor the action from his command and control helicopter. Time and again, he selflessly exposed himself to hostile sniper fire and automatic weapons fire by landing on the ravaged battlefield to extract casualties, offer encouragement and provide tactical advice to his commanders. On one occasion, General Deane fearlessly ordered his pilot to land in a heavily booby trapped field to evacuate a wounded soldier. As the situation required, he personally directed artillery and air strikes in close support of his troops. Then, with complete disregard for his safety, he flew low over the insurgent positions to assess the damage and ensure that the enemy was not withdrawing undetected. Unrelenting in his determination and courage, General Deane would hover at treetop level to guide the ground units through the dense enemy-held jungle and often marked targets with smoke grenades. His unimpeachable valor and dynamic leadership immeasurably bolstered the morale of his men and inspired them to decisively defeat the Viet Cong in every engagement throughout Operation CEDAR FALLS. Brigadier General Deane's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his command, and the United States Army."

Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1853
--
Second DSC received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

Brigadier General

Unit:

173rd Airborne Brigade "Sky Soldiers", II Field Force Vietnam, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

October 26th, 1967

"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General John Russell Deane, Jr. (ASN: 0-24835), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate), in the Republic of Vietnam, during the period from November 1966 to August 1967."

Department of the Army, General Orders No. 46

Rank:

Brigadier General

Unit:

173rd Airborne Brigade "Sky Soldiers", II Field Force Vietnam, U.S. Army

"Brigadier General John Russell Deane, Jr. (ASN: 0-24835), United States Army, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States from 1975 to 1977."

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

Brigadier General

Unit:

173rd Airborne Brigade "Sky Soldiers", II Field Force Vietnam, U.S. Army

"Brigadier General John Russell Deane, Jr. (ASN: 0-24835), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against the enemy while serving Assistant Division Commander, 1st Infantry Division, and later as Commanding General, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate), in the Republic of Vietnam."

Second SSM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

Brigadier General

Unit:

173rd Airborne Brigade "Sky Soldiers", II Field Force Vietnam, U.S. Army

Third SSM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Period:

Korean War (1950-1953)

Rank:

Colonel

Unit:

Military Armistice Commission Korea, United Nations Command, United Nations

"Colonel (Infantry) John Russell Deane, Jr. (ASN: 0-24835), United States Army, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while serving on the Armistice Commission, Korea, from 1953 to 1954."

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

Brigadier General

Unit:

Assistant Division Commander, HQ, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army

"Brigadier General John Russell Deane, Jr. (ASN: 0-24835), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Assistant Division Commander, 82d Airborne Division, in the Dominican Republic from 1965 to 1966."

Second LoM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

Brigadier General

Unit:

173rd Airborne Brigade "Sky Soldiers", II Field Force Vietnam, U.S. Army

"Brigadier General John Russell Deane, Jr. (ASN: 0-24835), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving Assistant Division Commander, 1st Infantry Division, and later as Commanding General, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate), in the Republic of Vietnam."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)