John F. Freund

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General

John Frederick Freund, Jr.
Nickname(s)Fritz
Born(1918-04-27)April 27, 1918
New York City, New York
DiedMarch 22, 2001(2001-03-22) (aged 82)
New York City, New York
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Army
RankMajor General
Commands heldConnecticut State Militia
Spouse(s)Margaret McCallum
Websitewww.ct.gov/mil

John Fredrick Freund, Jr. (April 27, 1918 – March 22, 2001) was the thirty-sixth Adjutant General of the State of Connecticut.

Early life and education[]

Freund was born in New York City, New York on April 27, 1918. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1940, at which was the same time he entered the service.[1][2]

Military career[]

An eye problem kept him from the Navy.[2] Freund was commissioned as a Regular Army Second Lieutenant in the Artillery, and after, attended the Artillery School. He served as a battery officer and battery commander from 1941-1942. From April 1943 to July 1945, he served as executive officer and battalion commander of combat units in the European Theater of Operations. Freund's battalion was deactivated because of cessation of hostilities and he was assigned to Theater Service Forces, European Theater.

In 1946, Freund represented HQ, Army Ground Forces as Liaison Officer for Guided Missiles at the Wright-Patterson Air Development Center. He then entered the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Southern California in 1947. In 1949, Freund was assigned to the 1st Guided Missile Regiment, Fort Bliss, Texas, where he served until July 1952 as battalion commander, group officer, group executive officer and group commanding officer. During 1953 to 1957, he was assigned to the Weapons Systems Evaluation Group, Office of the Secretary of Defense, as an army member and guided missile specialists.

After graduation from the National War College in 1961, Freund remained in the Washington area, serving for one year on the Department of the Army General Staff and two subsequent years with the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In September 1964 he served as adviser to Army of the Republic of Vietnam Brigadier General Nguyễn Hữu Có, the commander of II Corps and he played a key role in defusing the Buôn Ma Thuột rebellion by the United Front for the Liberation of Oppressed Races.[3] During his time in South Vietnam, he performed duties as Deputy Senior Corps Advisor, Director of Training for Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV), Assistant Director of the Joint United States Public Affairs Office, Special Assistant to the COMUSMACV General William Westmoreland and finally as commander of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade.[4] Freund was wounded in August 1967 during an assault operation in Operation Fairfax and was brought back to the U.S. in early September.[5]

In October 1967, he was assigned to West Germany where he served as Chief of Staff of VII Corps. In January 1969 he returned to the U.S. where he was assigned to Washington D.C., serving as Special Assistant for Counter Insurgency and Special Activities, office of the Joint Chief of Staff, until August 1969. He served as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of the Army, until July 1971. On July 16, 1971 Freund was reassigned to Stewart Field, New York where he assumed command of the First Region, U.S. Army Air Defense Command.[2]

He was appointed Connecticut Adjutant General by Thomas J. Meskill in 1972 until 1982.[2] During this assignment, he increased the National Guard budget and many armories were built, including the one that now stands in New Britain, Connecticut.

Awards[]

His awards included a Distinguished Service Medal, a Silver Star, a Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, a Bronze Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters and Combat "V" , and Air Medal with elven Oak Leaf Clusters, and a Purple Heart. He was also awarded seven campaign ribbons and ten foreign decorations.[6]

Personal life[]

John Freund married Margaret McCallum on September 6, 1947. They had three sons; John F. Freund, Peter C. Freund, and Bruce R. Freund. On March 22, 2001 Freund died of cancer in the home of a son in New York.[7][2]

He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

References[]

  1. ^ "Armory Idea Excites Freund". ProQuest 543791463. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e "John Freund, Retired Guard Commander, Dies". The Hartford Courant. 24 March 2001.
  3. ^ John D. Howard (April 2019). "The Revolt of the Montagnards". Historynet. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  4. ^ Tucker, Spencer (2000). Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War. ABC-CLIO. p. 357. ISBN 1-57607-040-9.
  5. ^ MacGarrigle, George (1998). Combat Operations: Taking the Offensive, October 1966 to October 1967. Government Printing Office. pp. 158–61. ISBN 9780160495403.
  6. ^ "Gen. Freund Earns 2ND Legion of Merit". ProQuest 551181165. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ "State's Military Chief Marches Into Retirement With Pride". ProQuest 546649699. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Military offices
Preceded by Connecticut Adjutant General
1972-1982 		Succeeded by
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