John G. Van Houten

John Gibson Van Houten (1904-1974) served as a major general in the United States Army and was an important figure in the rebirth of the United States Army Rangers during the Korean War.[1] He was a commanding officer of the 60th Infantry Regiment and Chief of staff of the 9th Infantry Division in World War II.[2][3] At the start of the Korean War, he was picked by J. Lawton Collins to create an Airborne Ranger Training Program at Fort Benning in Georgia. Towards the end of his career he served as commander of the 8th Infantry Division and as Commander of the United States Army Military District of Washington.[4]

Major General

John G. Van Houten
Born11 March 1904
Georgia, U.S.
Died23 February 1974 (aged 69)
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army seal United States Army
Years of service1926–1961
Rank Major General
Service number016669
Commands held60th Infantry Regiment
8th Infantry Division
United States Army Military District of Washington
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal (2)
Air Medal

Born in Georgia, Van Houten earned a B.S. in agriculture from the University of Georgia in 1926. He was commissioned as a reserve cavalry officer on May 31, 1926 and entered the regular army infantry on September 17, 1926. Van Houten graduated from the National War College in 1949.[5]

Van Houten retired from active duty on June 30, 1961.[6] After his death in 1974, he was interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.[7] Van Houten was posthumously inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame in 2006.[8]

References
  1. "Rangers All the Way!". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  2. "9th INFANTRY DIVISION - Order of Battle of the United States Army - WWII - ETO | U.S. Army Center of Military History". history.army.mil. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  3. "60th Infantry Regiment". 9th Infantry Division in WWII. 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  4. "Major General John G. Van Houten". www.soc.mil. Archived from the original on 2020-02-03. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  5. U.S. Army Register: Active and Retired Lists. Vol. I. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. January 1, 1958. p. 919. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  6. U.S. Army Register: Active and Retired List. Vol. I. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. January 1, 1962. p. 752. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  7. "Van Houten, John G". Nationwide Gravesite Locator. National Cemetery Administration. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  8. "U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame" (PDF). Worldwide Army Rangers, Inc. June 12, 2015. Retrieved 2021-11-07.


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