James B. Vaught facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lieutenant General
James B. Vaught
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| Nickname(s) | "The General" |
| Born | November 3, 1926 Conway, South Carolina, US |
| Died | September 20, 2013 (aged 86) Horry County, South Carolina, US |
| Buried |
Tilly Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery
Conway, South Carolina |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1944–1985 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | ROK-US Combined Forces Command 24th Infantry Division 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War Iran Hostage Crisis (Operation Eagle Claw) |
James Benjamin Vaught (born November 3, 1926 – died September 20, 2013) was a brave United States Army officer. He became a Lieutenant General. General Vaught fought in two major wars: the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He also led important Special Forces missions. One of his biggest roles was leading Operation Eagle Claw in 1980. This mission tried to rescue American hostages in Iran.
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Early Life and Military Service
James Vaught grew up in Conway, South Carolina. He finished high school in 1943. After that, he went to The Citadel, a military college in Charleston.
During World War II, many young men were drafted into the military. In 1944, Vaught joined the United States Army. He became an officer in 1945. After the war, he served in West Germany for over three years.
Serving in the Korean and Vietnam Wars
After his time in Germany, Vaught returned to the U.S. Soon after, he was sent to South Korea. There, he fought against forces from North Korea and China. He saw a lot of combat after landing at Pusan. He was injured twice during his service in Korea.
In 1967, during the Vietnam War, Vaught went to South Vietnam. He was a battalion commander for the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry. He played a key role in the Battle of Huế in 1968. This battle was part of the Tet Offensive. He also helped in Operation Pegasus, which was a mission to help the troops at Khe Sanh Combat Base. Vaught was later hurt in a car accident. He had to be taken to a hospital for treatment.
Later Military Career
After the Vietnam War, Vaught continued his career in the Army. He was promoted to Major General. He worked at The Pentagon, helping to plan Army operations. His last job was leading the combined forces of the U.S. and South Korea. He retired from the Army in 1985. After retiring, he lived in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Operation Eagle Claw: A Difficult Mission
One of General Vaught's most well-known roles was during Operation Eagle Claw. This was a rescue mission in 1980. Its goal was to save American hostages held in Iran. General Vaught was the overall commander of this important operation.
Sadly, the mission did not succeed. Eight service members died during the operation. This happened when one of the helicopters crashed into a transport aircraft in the Iranian desert. After the mission, President Carter announced its failure. He took responsibility for what happened.
Later, a special group looked into why the mission failed. They found some areas that could have been better. They suggested that having more backup helicopters would have helped. They also thought practicing all parts of the mission together would have been useful.
Awards and Recognition
General Vaught received many awards for his bravery and service. He earned the Silver Star award twice during the Vietnam War. This is a very high honor for courage in combat.
Other awards he received include:
- Three Legions of Merit
- The Distinguished Flying Cross
- The Soldier's Medal
- Two Bronze Star Medals
- The Meritorious Service Medal
- Six Air Medals
- The Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Two Army Commendation Medals
- The Purple Heart medal (for being wounded in combat)
Death
James Vaught passed away on September 20, 2013, at the age of 86.
