John W. Morris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Woodland Morris II
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| Born | September 10, 1921 Princess Anne, Maryland |
| Died | August 20, 2013 (aged 91) Wilmington, North Carolina |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1980 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | Chief of Engineers (1976–1980) |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3 OLC) Silver Star Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
John W. Morris (born September 10, 1921, died August 20, 2013) was an important American military leader. He was a lieutenant general in the U.S. Army. He also became the Chief of Engineers, which is a very high position.
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Early Life and Military Training
John W. Morris was born in Princess Anne, Maryland. He went to the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point. He graduated in June 1943.
After graduating, he joined the Corps of Engineers. This part of the army focuses on building things like roads, bridges, and airfields.
Service During Wartime
During World War II, Morris led a team that built airfields. This work was done in the Western Pacific region. After the war, he continued his service. He worked in the Philippines and Japan. He also served in the Corps' Savannah District. Later, he was an engineer at Goose Bay in Labrador.
From 1960 to 1962, he commanded the 8th Engineer Battalion in Korea. This unit was part of a larger division.
Important Engineering Projects
From 1962 to 1965, Morris led the Corps' Tulsa District. During this time, his team worked on improving navigation. They made it easier for boats to travel on the Arkansas River.
Later, during the Vietnam War, he held several important roles. He was the Army's Deputy Chief of Legislative Liaison. This meant he helped connect the Army with lawmakers. He also commanded the 18th Engineer Brigade in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970.
After Vietnam, he became the Missouri River Division Engineer. He held this role for two years. Then, he was the Corps' Director of Civil Works for three years. This job involved overseeing many civilian construction projects.
Chief of Engineers
From 1975 to 1976, Morris served as the Deputy Chief of Engineers. This was a step before becoming the top engineer.
Finally, he became the Chief of Engineers. In this role, he convinced the Army to make the Corps of Engineers a major command. This showed how important their work was. Morris also earned a master's degree in civil engineering from the University of Iowa. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 91.
Awards and Honors
General Morris received many awards for his service. These awards recognized his bravery and leadership.
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
In 1977, he was named Construction's Man of the Year. This award was given by Engineering News-Record. It was for his work overseeing $17 billion in construction in Saudi Arabia. In 1996, he received the Carroll H. Dunn Award of Excellence. This award came from the Construction Industry Institute.
