Jack V. Mackmull
United States Army lieutenant general / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jack V. Mackmull (December 1, 1927 – April 3, 2011) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam War, he served from 1950 to 1984 and attained the rank of lieutenant general. Mackmull's commands included the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, 101st Airborne Division, and XVIII Airborne Corps, and he was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit (4), and Distinguished Flying Cross (4).
Jack V. Mackmull | |
---|---|
Born | (1927-12-01)December 1, 1927 Dayton, Ohio, U.S. |
Died | April 3, 2011(2011-04-03) (aged 83) Melbourne, Florida, U.S. |
Buried | |
Service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1950–1984 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Service number | 062677[1] |
Unit | U.S. Army Infantry Branch |
Commands held |
|
Known for | Founder, United States Army Aviation Branch |
Wars | Korean War Vietnam War |
Awards | |
Alma mater | |
Spouse(s) |
Beverly Marie Boehm
(m. 1950–2011) |
Children | 3 |
Other work |
|
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Mackmull was educated in Dayton and attended the city's Roosevelt High School. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1950, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry. After initial service at posts including Alaska, in 1953, Mackmull was assigned to Korean War duty as commander of Company L, 27th Infantry Regiment and assistant operations officer (S-3) of the 27th Infantry's 3rd Battalion. Subsequent assignments included the faculty of the United States Army Command and General Staff College.
Mackmull served three tours in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, first commanding the 13th Combat Aviation Battalion in 1964. During his second tour from 1968 to 1969, Mackmull commanded the 164th Combat Aviation Group. In 1972, Mackmull returned to South Vietnam as commander of the 1st Aviation Brigade. During this assignment, he was commended for managing the drawdown of 15,000 soldiers and over 1,000 aircraft without halting ongoing aviation operations. From 1977 to 1980, Mackmull commanded the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
From 1980 to 1981, Mackmull commanded the 101st Airborne Division. From 1981 to 1983, he commanded the XVIII Airborne Corps. In 1982, Mackmull led the committee that determined the army's future helicopter requirements, including an air-to-air combat capability. His efforts led to the establishment of the Army Aviation Branch, for which the army Chief of Staff, Forces Command commander, and Training and Doctrine Command commander dubbed him "Mr. Aviation". After retiring in 1984, Mackmull was a consultant to the army on Special Forces and aviation doctrine and training, a vice president of the Army Aviation Association of America, and was inducted into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame. He died in Melbourne, Florida on April 3, 2011, and was buried at West Point Cemetery.