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John W. Foss | |
|---|---|
 General John W. Foss | |
| Born | (1933-02-13)13 February 1933 |
| Died | 25 April 2020(2020-04-25) (aged 87) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1950–1991 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | United States Army Training and Doctrine Command XVIII Airborne Corps United States Army Infantry School 82nd Airborne Division 3d Brigade,1st Cavalry Division 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment |
| Battles / wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal (3) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal (2) |
John William Foss (13 February 1933 – 25 April 2020) was aUnited States Armygeneral, and commander of theUnited States Army Training and Doctrine Command.
Foss was born inHutchinson, Minnesota, on 13 February 1933. He began his military career when he enlisted in theMinnesota National Guard's 136th Infantry Regiment in April 1950. He transferred to active duty as an infantryman in 1951, received an appointment to theUnited States Military Academy, and was commissioned in the infantry in 1956.
Foss held a variety of command and staff positions. His overseas tours include four in Europe and four in Asia. Foss served as a platoon leader in the504th and187th Infantry Regiments in both Germany and Lebanon and commanded a rifle company in the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry in Korea. He served two combat tours in Vietnam with the4th Infantry Division as the Operations Officer, 2nd Brigade and as the commander of the3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry.
Foss' commands include the 3d Brigade,1st Cavalry Division; theUnited States Army Infantry School andFort Benning; the82nd Airborne Division; theXVIII Airborne Corps andFort Bragg; and Commanding General,United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).
Foss also served as an instructor at theUnited States Military Academy; the first exchange instructor at theRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst; the G-3 ofIII Corps; Chief of the Joint Military Advisory Group,Manila, Philippines; Commanding General, Seventh Army Training Command in Germany; the United States Army Chief of Infantry; and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Department of the Army.
In addition to aBachelor of Science degree in engineering, Foss received aMaster of Science degree in Public Administration fromShippensburg State College.[1] His awards include theArmy Distinguished Service Medal with twoOak Leaf Clusters, theAir Force Distinguished Service Medal,Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster,Defense Superior Service Medal,Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, and theDistinguished Flying Cross. He also earned theRanger Tab,Expert Infantryman Badge,Combat Infantryman Badge, theMaster Parachutist Badge with over 300 jumps, and theArmy Staff Identification andJoint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badges. He was awarded parachute badges from the United Kingdom, Philippines, Honduras, and Egypt. Foss was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 1995.
Foss retired from the army on 1 September 1991, and lived inWilliamsburg, Virginia. In retirement Foss had been Chairman of the Commission on the United States Army Reserve Command, served as a consultant to various defense industries, been on the Board of Advisors to both theJewish Institute for National Security Affairs and the National Infantry Foundation, Senior Mentor to Senior Joint Warfighting Course,Armed Forces Staff College and was a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Land Warfare of theAssociation of the United States Army. In 1995 he was inducted to the US Army Ranger Hall of Fame. In September 2009, Foss was awarded theDoughboy Award by theNational Infantry Association. In May 2013, Foss was selected and awarded as a Distinguished Graduate at West Point.
Last resided in Williamsburg, Virginia. His wife Gloria died of cancer 26 June 2014, and was interred atArlington National Cemetery on 12 August 2014. He had three children, John W. Foss Jr., Kevin Mark Foss and Julia M. Foss Dunn. Through their daughter Julia, Foss has three grandchildren: Bryana, Kyla and Brady Dunn.
Foss died on 25 April 2020, at the age of 87.[2] He was interred with his wife at Arlington National Cemetery on 22 October 2020.[3]
| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Commanding General, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command 1989—1991 | Succeeded by |
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