Any US soldiers that served in WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam?

[drastic_quench]

With a birth year around the turn of the century it would seem mathematically possible. Are their any examples?

[Kobal2]

Doubtful. While there were certainly people living during the Viet-Nam era who had memories of the Great War, I doubt any of them were still active, in the army or anywhere else. Assuming the guy enlisted at the tail end of WW1 (i.e. born in 1900 or thereabouts) he would still have been in his late 60s by the time of Viet-Nam, with 50+ years in the service. Even generals get retired or kicked upstairs earlier than that.

At any rate, Douglas Macarthur is the closest I can think of - he served in both World Wars, got the boot during the Korean War and died a couple months before the Gulf of Tonkin incident.

[Otara]

Rickover had 63 years service, but started in 1922.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyman_G._Rickover

So fair chance someone did it somewhere.

Otara

[The Other Waldo Pepper]

Originally Posted by Otara

Rickover had 63 years service, but started in 1922.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyman_G._Rickover

So fair chance someone did it somewhere.

Shucks, you could argue the case for Eisenhower: graduates from West Point in 1915, spends WWI on active duty training tank crews; serves as a five-star general during WWII; becomes commander-in-chief during the Korean War, and only leaves office years after deploying military personnel to Vietnam.

[Jim's Son]

In the 19th century Winfield Scott served in the War of 1812, Mexican War and Civil War. Later on Joe Wheeler served in the Civil War for the Confederacy, the Spanish-American War (where in the heat of battle he allegedly said "we've got those Yankees on the run") and the Phillipine counter insurgency.

[Omi no Kami]

He wasn't in WWI, but Rudy Boesch served as a frogman at the tail-end of WWII and received the China Sevice Medal, was a plank owner for SEAL Team Two, and served on the teams for the rest of his career, including deployments in the Korean and Vietnam wars.

[Ranchoth]

Well, there was David Hackworth, who served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam (WWII in the merchant marine, and then postwar occupation duty in the army—he lied about his age).

Skipping forward a bit, one Major Steve Hutchinson, a Vietnam vet, died in Iraq at the age of 60 in 2009 (he'd re-enlisted when he was 57).

[Triskadecamus]

MY father served in WWII, Korea, and in Viet Nam, in combat zones in all three. My grandfather served in WWI and II, but was retired during Korea, without deploying there. Since his class graduated and were commissioned early because of WWI, he became a second looie at the age of 17, (Third youngest in American military history, in fact.) it seems unlikely that many others had the opportunity to serve all three.

Keep in mind at the end of all three of those wars there were massive riffs in grade for anyone who stayed in the service after the various treaties. Few did. My grandfather had already scheduled his retirement before the beginning of hostilities in Korea, and did not qualify for service awards for the conflict.

Tris

[Quartz]

Skipping back a bit, Winston Churchill managed the Boer War, WW1, WW2, and was in Parliament for Korea. He died in 1965, just missing Vietnam.

[Jim's Son]

In an earlier time, you have Gebhard Lebrecht von Blucher (1742-1819) who enlisted at age 16 to fight for Sweden in the Seven Years War and at age 72arrived in time to help beat Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. I particularly like the part about "bathing his wounds in brandy and fortified by liberal internal application of the same."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gebhard...and_later_life

[T. Slothrop]

My Father Served in WWII as an infantry scout in the first Marine Division through the Pacific. He also served during the Korean conflict (in Korea), the Dominican Republic dustup (in the Dominican Republic) (yes, we fought there and Marines were killed) and in the war in Viet Nam (in Viet Nam, Tet of '68).

I served in Viet Nam only ('70, 71' 72). Years later, he and I were watching a TV documentary about the fall of Saigon and he turned to me and asked: "Why is it that all the ones we send you to . . . we lose ?"

[Argent Towers]

Were there guys who served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf? I mean actually served in front line positions?

[brocks]

Originally Posted by Jim's Son

In an earlier time, you have Gebhard Lebrecht von Blucher (1742-1819) who enlisted at age 16 to fight for Sweden in the Seven Years War and at age 72arrived in time to help beat Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

Blucher!

(terrified whinny)

[eenerms]

My father was born in Belguim in early thirties, so survived (but not served) WWII, immigrated to the states and joined the USAF in time for Korea (served Stateside) deployed for Vietnam.

[GusNSpot]

Originally Posted by Quartz

Skipping back a bit, Winston Churchill managed the Boer War, WW1, WW2, and was in Parliament for Korea. He died in 1965, just missing Vietnam.

He did not miss Vietnam. All depends on where you draw the line about Americans actually fighting in Vietnam. ( What the government says vs what the bodies say. )
::: damn historians ::::

[Cicero]

Originally Posted by Quartz

Skipping back a bit, Winston Churchill managed the Boer War, WW1, WW2, and was in Parliament for Korea. He died in 1965, just missing Vietnam.

I know this is an old thread, but if you want to include Churchill you could add Sudan, Cuba and India. However I think WW2 is a bit of a stretch as he wasn't a combatant. I'm not sure a MP counts as serving.

[Quartz]

Originally Posted by Cicero

I know this is an old thread, but if you want to include Churchill you could add Sudan, Cuba and India. However I think WW2 is a bit of a stretch as he wasn't a combatant. I'm not sure a MP counts as serving.

He was First Lord of the Admiralty, wasn't he? And he was definitely in harm's way.

[Cicero]

Originally Posted by Quartz

He was First Lord of the Admiralty, wasn't he? And he was definitely in harm's way.

I think you are British so you would be aware that First Lord of the Admiralty is not a combat role. He would have been no more in harms way than anyone else in London (apart from his boozing). He was probably less in harms way given the secure bunkers and meeting rooms provided.

[Sampiro]

Not exactly it, but Omar Bradley (1893-1981) retired from the military after Korea but was an important advisor to JFK and LBJ and did visit Vietnam and meet with brass. (Picture of him in Vietnam.)

[Morgenstern]

My initial thought was Gen Westmoreland. (William Childs Westmoreland, March 26, 1914 – July 18, 2005) He missed WWI though.

I see this thread is compiling a long and distinguished list of military leaders.

[Quartz]

Originally Posted by Cicero

I think you are British so you would be aware that First Lord of the Admiralty is not a combat role.

Well yes, but he still went to France a few days after D Day.

[Simplicio]

Originally Posted by Cicero

I think you are British so you would be aware that First Lord of the Admiralty is not a combat role. He would have been no more in harms way than anyone else in London (apart from his boozing). He was probably less in harms way given the secure bunkers and meeting rooms provided.

More to the point, its a civilian position. The First Lord of the Admiralty isn't a "soldier".

[gunnergoz]

In my copy of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Pictorial History of the Korean War (pub. 1951) there is this photo http://imgur.com/LZ9qB on page 52 credited to the DOD of a very grizzled, middle-aged US infantryman in Korea, holding a carbine at the ready, with this caption:
"THE ARMY'S HIS HOME. Battle wise sergeant Hun Toon (sic), veteran of the first and second world wars, journeyed half way around the world to level the sights of his carbine on a new foe in Korea. The sergeant, a native Vermonter who enlisted in the cause of freedom in 1918 when he was 20 years old, has spanned the years by fighting injustice and resisting aggression, under the banner of the United States in the four corners of the world."

So there is one example of a three-war combat veteran whose career spanned at least 32 years and perhaps more.

I did a quick Google search to see if I could find out more about this vet and turned up this:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...&GRid=32851566 showing the grave of a Vermont veteran, Mastersergeant Orlando Huntoon, who lived from 1898 to 1972
The age, state and rank are right, but there is no credit given him for WW1 on the grave marker. It could be the same veteran and it is possible that the reporter who took the Korean War photo simply misunderstood the WW1 participation.

I looked a bit more and found this article in the Portsmouth Vt. Times, Oct. 20th, 1951: "Twenty years military service five of them in actual combat have won top combat soldier for Sgt Orlando E Huntoon. Huntoon, a native of Barnard Vt is with the 85th Tank Battalion at Indiantown Gap, Pa. He saw service in both world wars and a full year in Korea."

It is possible that MSgt Huntoon enlisted in time for WW1 but did not see combat service there. There seems little doubt, however, that he saw combat in WW2 and Korea.

A bit more searching found this photo http://imgur.com/aL2ro and it is definitely the same soldier as depicted in my Korean War history book.

So thanks to this board, I got to do a bit of wracking my old memory (I haven't looked at that Korean War pictorial book in many, many years but the MSgt's name and image always stuck with me.) I also got a great lesson in just how much there is on the internet to find and enjoy, if you know where to look for it and keep at it.

[lukaszewicz]

my name is eric lukaszewicz im trying to research my deceased fathers history his name was sylvester lukaszewicz was born in 1923 and passed in1989 i was hoping somebody could help me i dont remember much just him talking about it sometimes i also have a older brother named sylvester the only way i could say to tell them apart are their birth day and years if needed if you do know the name im sure he would help me with any more info

[AK84]

An 18 year old in 1918 would have been 65 in 1965, too old to be even a senior commander, who are usually late fifties.

[jeffestes]

I met one in the Andrews AFB BX chow area in late 1980's. I was a reserve Marine getting lunch, noticed this old guy eating all alone with a bunch of (small) writing on his blue ball cap. Sat with him - named John, and asked about the hat. It read "WW-1 WW-2 Korea Vietnam Vet". I'd seen plenty of the WW2-Vietnam, but never this. He said he'd served in almost every branch of the military from 1918 until 1962. He retired as a CWO in the Army and ended his service as an advisor in Vietnam. I've told this story a number of times and everyone stares into space, counting in their head and wondering how, but it seems this fellow may have been one of the few, maybe the only.

[Little Nemo]

Not the wars the OP listed. But Winfield Scott served in the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the American Civil War (plus some Indian campaigns). His service career ran for 53 years, which is the same length the OP was asking about.

eta: I missed Jim's Son's post and see he already mentioned Scott.

[AK84]

Originally Posted by Sampiro

Not exactly it, but Omar Bradley (1893-1981) retired from the military after Korea but was an important advisor to JFK and LBJ and did visit Vietnam and meet with brass. (Picture of him in Vietnam.)

IIRC LBJ seriously thought about making Bradley his Secretary of Defence for a while.

[mlees]

William Leahy was a Midshipman on the battleship Oregon during the Spanish-American War, was XO of the Nevada for a year in WW1, made Chief of Naval Operations in the late 30's. Recalled to service as the Chief of Staff to the President of the United States (this post will later be called the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) in WW2. Did not serve during Korea.

He was the first Admiral to be appointed to the new five star rank of Fleet Admiral.

[Mk VII]

Gen. S.L.A. Marshall claimed to have been a combat soldier in WW1, but belonged to the railroad troops and was not commissioned until 1919. His trip to Vietnam in 1966 and 67 was for the ostensible purpose for teaching his 'post-combat critique' method of analysis of tactics. Unofficially his purpose was to gather material for more books like the ones he had written about Korea and WW2. It irked him that he had let the rights to Pork Chop Hill go too cheaply to Hollywood, and he had a large family to provide for.

[Fleetwood]

Originally Posted by Quartz

He was First Lord of the Admiralty, wasn't he? And he was definitely in harm's way.

That was in WW1. After being forced out of that position, he served in the infantry in France. He was Prime Minister in WW2.

[Elendil's Heir]

Originally Posted by Fleetwood

That was in WW1. After being forced out of that position, [Churchill] served in the infantry in France. He was Prime Minister in WW2.

And, in his second term as PM, approved the UK's acquisition of nuclear weapons. From a cavalry charge to nukes - quite a career!

[Cole Thornton]

The actor George O'Brien served in WW1, WW2, Korean War and The Vietnam War, was highly decorated, was fleet boxing champion in the earlier conflicts, despite a somewhat successful career in Hollywood, mainly in westerns. Mr. O'Brien retired as a captain to his horse ranch.u

[Morgenstern]

Originally Posted by Argent Towers

Were there guys who served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf? I mean actually served in front line positions?

Front line in Vietnam? I bet you'd have to count every serviceman who was in Vietnam for that one.

[Mr Quatro]

I knew a man that served in WWI and in WWII, but he was in the merchat marine and had two ships shot out from underneath him.

I know a man (my ex-wifes husband no less) that served in WWII, Korean conflict and in Vietnam that flew as a navigator on B-26's to B-52's, but he just turned 90 last month and is probably one of the last.

[Isilder]

Originally Posted by Cole Thornton

The actor George O'Brien served in WW1, WW2, Korean War and The Vietnam War, was highly decorated, was fleet boxing champion in the earlier conflicts, despite a somewhat successful career in Hollywood, mainly in westerns. Mr. O'Brien retired as a captain to his horse ranch.u

He was in active duty in WW 1 and WW2, but after WW2 , he was only in Naval Reserve until 1962 . No evidence of any significant proximity to battle , in fact there is evidence his assignments were related to his actor/voice skills - radio operator in homeland bases, and filming in overseas locations.

He was filiming in remote location, but the western side of Cambodia is not the war zone.

See here http://georgeobrien.us/html/biography/part3.html

[Spavined Gelding]

When I was on active duty during Vietnam (1967-1972), a fair number of my senior officers were veterans of WWII and Korea. Typically they were enlisted men or junior officers during WWII, went to college on the GI Bill, recalled as reservists for Korea and then decided to make a career of being soldiers. One of my bosses jumped in the Arnheim Campaign and another took a battery of 105 mm howitzers across the beach at Normandy on D+2. Another carried a BAR across France and Germany and took some pleasure in pointing out barns and farm houses where he had holed up over night in 1944 and 1945. Since it was about 50 years from the Armistice to the Tet Offensive, it strikes me as unlikely that any soldier say active duty in all four wars.