John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, dies
July 23rd, 2011
04:09 PM ET

John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, dies

Retired Army Gen. John Shalikashvili, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has died of complications from a stroke, his executive assistant said Saturday. He was 75.

Shalikashvili passed away Saturday at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington, according to assistant Rachel McLain.

A funeral is expected to be held at Arlington National Cemetery.

Born in Poland in 1936, Shalikashvili became the first foreign-born chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1993. He held the post until his retirement in 1997, serving under former President Bill Clinton, who awarded Shalikashvili the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Prior to that, he was NATO's 10th supreme allied commander in Europe.

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soundoff (7 Responses)
  1. Gary Bauer

    John Shalikahvili was the finest battalion commander I ever served under years ago in Vietnam. He was one of the sharpest US Army Officers to rise through the ranks to the highest level. He treated his fellow officers and enlisted honestly and with great insight. When I'd brief him each morning in Vietnam on events of the night he was always ahead of the curve and knew what I was relaying. Very uncanny. He'd smile and nod but listen carefully anyway. He got me out of hot water on several occasions with General Hennessy the CG of the 101st Airborne Div back then. He allowed my to fly recon for his Battalion the 3/506 Currahees (aka "Band of Brothers") on his second tour in Nam. RIP John.

    July 23, 2011 at 8:12 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Queen

    Condolences to his family.
    Rest in peace, sir.

    July 23, 2011 at 8:22 pm | Report abuse |
  3. John Schwendler

    Well done, sir. Rest in Peace. My condolences to your family.

    July 23, 2011 at 9:45 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Mommy

    You would think a general would be smarter that to trust his health in the care of a military facility!!

    July 24, 2011 at 4:41 pm | Report abuse |
    • Hof

      Actually, we'd think you're a moron sooner.

      July 25, 2011 at 8:12 am | Report abuse |
  5. Rafael Marquez

    Rest in peace general. My condolences to your family.

    July 24, 2011 at 7:48 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Mommy

    Look at US Rep John Murtha and his BOTCHED oepration at the military's "premire" hospital Bethesda Naval Medical Center...that simple operation cost him his LIFE. Many go into a military hospital only to never come out alive...or worse come out maimed.

    July 28, 2011 at 4:42 pm | Report abuse |
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