Yesterday, Retired Army Major General John K. Singlaub passed away at the age of 100. He was a member of World War Two’s Office of Strategic Services, founding member of the Central Intelligence Agency and a Distinguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment.
John K. Singlaub was recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in November 1943. As part of JEDBURGH Team JAMES, he jumped into France on 11 August 1944 to arm and direct the French resistance. Sent to China, as the commander of the PIGEON Mission, he jumped onto Hainan Island on 27 August 1945 to rescue Dutch and Australian Prisoners of War. As one of a handful of Special Operations Branch personnel retained the Strategic Services Unit (successor to the OSS), Singlaub stayed in China to report on the Civil War.
Singlaub was again involved in special operations when he was an instructor at Fort Benning, Georgia and helped to establish the Ranger Training Center in 1950. He then had two tours in Korea, including one with the Central Intelligence Agency’s Joint Advisory Commission, Korea (JACK).
Singlaub returned to special operations in from 1966-1968, when he commanded a joint unconventional warfare command, the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG). Retiring in 1978, Major General Singlaub remained active in the Special Operations community and was recognized with the United States Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM) Bull Simons award in 2011.
There’s no doubt that General Singlaub was one hell of a man, but the thing I respect him for the most is falling on his sword over the Carter Administration’s plan to pull all US troops out of South Korea which would have assuredly led to an invasion by the north. It led to his being relieved as Chief of Staff of U.S. forces in South Korea and subsequently his forced retirement.
An ardent anti-communist, he founded the Western Goals Foundation after his retirement.
His contributions to America’s security are myriad and some of his exploits can be read in his autobiography, “Hazardous Duty: An American Soldier In The Twentieth Century.”
America needs men like this. He will be missed.
May He Rest In Peace.
I had the honor and privilege of meeting GEN Singlaub many times over the years. I remember one summer afternoon in the early 90s in particular when I got to spend most of an afternoon talking to him in the 5th Group area at Ft. Campbell. I had the great good fortune to see him again in the same place this last September. I got to shake his hand one more time and pay my respects. I agree, he will be missed. DOL
TLB
Thank you for posting this. Had not heard the part about him in ROK vs the Carter admin. Proof of a true leader. Do what is right, personal consequences be damned.
We could use so many more in his image.
…THANK GOD SUCH MEN LIVED. RIP Major General(Ret.) John K. Singlaub *slow salute*
I had the honor and privilege of working for GEN Singlaub on a few projects after his military career was over. Quite the guy he will be missed. RIP Jack
Rather interesting choice of company he kept, but that does tend to be the case now doesn’t it https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mccain-advised-ultra-righ_b_132612
RIP Chief SOG
I had the honor of working closely with General Singlaub (then Colonel) at SOG headquarters in Saigon when I arrived there in June 1967. At the time I was unaware of his past history since Google didnt exist but I remember him as a leader, a true patriot, a powerful figure, but one of compassion and support for the men and women working with him and under him.
Sadly, they don’t make them like him anymore.
RIP. Condolences to his family.