Général James M. Gavin

The general James Mr. Gavin was born it March 22, 1907 in Brooklyn. He is the son of Irish immigrant. At the age d'1 or 2 years, it was abandoned in an orphanage of New York City. It was adopted thereafter by Martin and Mary Gavin, a family of coalman of Pennsylvania. During its youth, the discipline and hard work were taught to him.

It engages in the army at the age of 17ans in 1924, very promising, it was sent to West Point.

Second Lieutenant in 1929, it is useful in the infantry, then as instructor at West-Point before joining it 503rd Parachute Infantry Battalion in September 1941.

In February 1942, it enters to the school of staff and takes the command of 505HT Parachute Infantry Regiment six months later.

It is known as “Jumping general” because it jumped with its troops to each operation, to Sicily, in Salerno to Italy in 1943 reaching the rank of General Sergeant.

In February 1944, he becomes second in command of division. On June 6, 1944, it jumped with its men on Normandy.

In August 1944, it replaced Major General Ridgway. He will be then youngest Major General of the army of the United States at the age of 37ans. It fought with the 82ème until the end of the war in 1945.

During the Fifties, Gavin took the direction of the department research and development of the army. It was a savage adversary with the policy of defense of president Eisenhower because of his dependence with regard to the nuclear weapons.

It took its retirement in 1958, it was useful as ambassador in France of 1961 to 1963.

It was very critical with regard to the war of Vietnam. He was the author of book like:

Airborne Warfare (1947), Crisis Now (1968), autobiographical One to Berlin (1978).

The Gavin General died in 1990.