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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Sep '94
John Edward Stannard No.15850 Class of 1946
Died 31 October 1993 in Sumner County, Tennessee, aged 71 years.
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
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He earned the Purple Heart and three Silver Stars;
commanded in combat on every level from squad to brigade; and
achieved the rank of brigadier general, but John Edward Stannard's
most cherished honor was his induction into the Infantry Hall
of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia for earning the Combat Infantryman's
Badge in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
John Stannard was born 3 February 1922 in Kenmare,
North Dakota. He finished eighth grade in Rawson, North Dakota
in a rural two room school, after which the family moved to Williston,
North Dakota. In high school, he excelled scholastically, boxed
and played football, gaining all state recognition in the latter.
He joined the North Dakota National Guard his junior year, graduated
in 1940 and went on to North Dakota State University. His Guard
unit, the 164th Infantry, was called to active duty in February
1941, first with the 34th Division in the states; then becoming
one of the regiments of the Americal Division, the first Army
division to fight in the Pacific at Guadalcanal.
In later years, John wrote a book, The Battle of
Coffin Corner and Other Comments Concerning the Guadalcanal Campaign.
In typical John Stannard style, he failed to mention that he
earned a Purple Heart and a Silver Star for gallantry in action.
His leadership also resulted in his being awarded one of two
Americal Division appointments to West Point. John became a second
lieutenant in the Infantry upon graduation.
John was assigned as a platoon leader in the 25th
Division and then the 11th Airborne Division in Japan and at
Fort Campbell, Kentucky. John and Llewellyn Fowler were married
26 May 1951 at the Catholic Chapel at Fort Campbell. He joined
the 23rd Infantry, 3rd Division in Korea in 1952, served as a
company commander and battalion operations officer and was awarded
his second Combat Infantryman's Badge. After returning to the
states, John served with the 508th Airborne Regiment and instructed
at the Airborne School. From Fort Benning, he attended C&GSC
at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, then went to Fort Bragg, North Carolina
with the 325th Airborne Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. In
1958, the Stannard's traveled to West Point where John served
as executive officer for the newly organized Admissions Division,
USMA. While there, John attended New York University and received
his masters in business administration. Between West Point and
his next assignment in J3 division, HQEUCOM, John attended the
Armed Forces Staff College. In 1964, John was selected to attend
the National War College; then served in the War Plans Division,
DCSOPS, Department of the Army. John went to Vietnam in 1967,
first to command the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry; then as brigade
commander, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
Gerald Saylor, a platoon leader in C Company, 2nd
Battalion, 8th Cavalry, remembered John as a combat leader: "Intelligence
had reliable information that a large NVA unit was operating
in the vicinity. We received orders to close with our sister
Company B to have sufficient firepower should we encounter what
was eventually proved to be the 2nd NVA Regiment. We didn't make
it. We were sucked into an NVA ambush and took heavy casualties.
Lieutenant Colonel Stannard had coordinated support, including
a smoke screen between us and the NVA. However, at dusk he was
dropped off at our night position. He visited each of the platoons,
encouraging all. A head count revealed we were unable to account
for several personnel, including the dog handler and his dog...LTC
Stannard organized a volunteer group to search for the missing
personnel. All were recovered, including the dog. For his action
that night, LTC Stannard received the Silver Star. I had no contact
with General Stannard until several years ago when, in response
to a Christmas card, he wrote of the history of Company C as
if it had happened yesterday. He spoke of the good men we had
lost, identifying each of them by name and date. John E. Stannard
remembered. He remembered because he had a deep concern for the
welfare of his men."
When John took command of the 1st Brigade, 1st
Cavalry (Airmobile), he selected Vern 0. Peters, (CPT, USA, Ret.)
as his command sergeant major. Vern Peters remembered: "John
was a very stern person. Having served as an enlisted man, he
understood the needs of his men. As brigade commander, John was
tops. Any time someone in our brigade was in combat, he was there
to support his men. On many missions, John would fly in to pick
up the wounded when our air ambulance would not go in. He would
not leave a member of his command in trouble if there was any
way he could get to them. We had a sergeant missing in action.
For four days we checked the area for him, receiving ground fire
each time. Finally, on the fifth day we spotted him at the edge
of a clearing; down we went, and he hand picked the NCO out.
Although we received small arms fire, everyone was safe. John
was a good friend and his death is a big loss." John was
awarded a third Silver Star and his third Combat Infantryman's
Badge in Vietnam.
Returning to the states, John was assigned to International
Security Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He
was promoted to brigadier general in 1970 and assigned as assistant
chief of staff for Plans and Policy, Headquarters, Allied Forces
Southern Europe. The Stannards next went to Hawaii, where John
joined the staff of CINCPAC. John retired in 1975 and he and
Llewellyn settled in Dallas, Texas. After 12 years, they moved
to Sumner County, Tennessee.
John Edward Stannard died suddenly from a heart
attack on 31 October 1993. He is survived by his wife, Llewellyn;
two sons, Dennis and Fred; a daughter, Llewellyn; his mother;
two brothers, George and James; and three sisters, Myrtle, Joyce
and Gladys.
Jim Cecil, a member of E Company, 164th Infantry,
and John's lifetime friend, delivered one of the eulogies: "Public
figures die and are subjects of public acclaim, but it is private
men and women who are buried and mourned by their families and
friends. So it is only appropriate to consider John Stannard
as he was perceived by his friends. We in Co E, 164th Infantry,
NDNG were proud of John. It was no surprise to us when he became
a general. We were impressed with his rank; most of us, enlisted
men, had little contact with generals except for an occasional
hand salute. Rank did not change John, he still visited on the
street corners when he was home on furlough. The public man is
now a part of history. The private man, loved by his family and
friends and mourned by the aging members of Company E, where
his military career began, will live in our hearts forever."
His daughter, Llewellyn, delivered another eulogy:
"Most of you know what a great soldier my father was. You
may not know that he was a loving father to my brothers, Dennis
and Fred, and to me. When my brothers had paper routes and I
rolled papers for them, Daddy built us a paper rolling machine.
We were proud of Daddy for building us one--it even worked, sort
of. My favorite story about Daddy was when he was going to fix
the faulty toaster, once and for all! He sat down at the kitchen
table with the toaster in front of him, his tools all set out
at hand, and started in on the toaster. Guess what happened?
The toaster blew up! Probably the only defeat in 'battle' he
ever suffered. Daddy was rough and gruff on the outside, but
he was always there for my brothers and me. We knew how much
he loved and cared for us. We will miss him. We love him."
When his wife was asked to give the character traits
that best described her beloved John, she declared simply, "
A man of honor."
John Stannard was a genuine hero and a natural
leader of men. It is with pride that the Class of 1946 declares,
"Well Done, John; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife, Llewellyn
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