French
DeutschJames W. Crysel
James W. Crysel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | May 18, 1937 Luverne, Alabama |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1959–1992 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Unit | United States Army Infantry Branch |
| Commands | Second United States Army Total Army Personnel Agency 25th Infantry Division 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment |
| Battles / wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Bronze Star Medal |
James W. Crysel (born May 18, 1937) is a retired United States Army officer who attained the rank of lieutenant general. He was notable for his command of Second United States Army and the 25th Infantry Division.
Early life
[edit]James Wendell Crysel was born in Luverne, Alabama on May 18, 1937.[1] He graduated from Stetson University in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management.[1] He completed the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at Stetson, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry.[1] While at Stetson, Crysel also became a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.[2]
Military education
[edit]Crysel's professional education included: Infantry Officer Basic Course; Infantry Officer Advanced Course; Military Intelligence Officer Advanced Course; United States Army Command and General Staff College; United States Army War College; and the Capstone Military Leadership Program.[1]
While a student at the Army War College, Crysel also completed the requirements for his Master of Science degree in public administration from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.[1]
Early career
[edit]From 1963 to 1964, Crysel was assigned to Company E, 1st Airborne Battle Group, a unit of the 101st Airborne Division.[3] From 1964 to 1965, he served with Company B and then Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, also 101st Division unit.[3] During 1968, Crysel was plans and operations officer (S-3) for the Special Forces Operating Base (SFOB) at Duc Lap Camp.[4] In 1969, Crysel commanded B-55 Detachment, 5th Mobile Strike Force Command in Vietnam.[5] He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1962, captain in 1963, and major in 1967.[6][7]
Crysel's field grade officer assignments included: operations officer and later officer in charge of joint military service participation for the 1973 Presidential Inauguration;[1] executive officer of 1st Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard);[1] personnel staff officer in the Office of the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (G-1);[1] commander, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment;[1] special assistant to the chief of staff, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault);[1] and assistant chief of staff for operations and director of plans and training (G-3), 101st Airborne Division.[1] His later field grade officer positions included commander of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division,[1] and chief of staff for 2nd Infantry Division.[1]
Career as general officer
[edit]After receiving promotion to brigadier general, Crysel served as assistant division commander for support, 101st Airborne Division,[1] and then as the division's assistant division commander for operations.[1] From 1985 to 1986, he served as director of plans for the United States Pacific Command.[8]
Crysel received promotion to major general in 1986, and commanded the 25th Infantry Division from 1986 to 1988.[9][10] From 1988 to 1990, Crysel commanded the Total Army Personnel Agency in Alexandria, Virginia.[10]
He was commander of Second United States Army from 1990 to 1993, and received promotion to lieutenant general.[11][12] He retired in 1993.
Awards and decorations
[edit]Crysel's awards include the Army Distinguished Service Medal and Defense Superior Service Medal.[2] In addition, he received: the Bronze Star Medal (with one Oak leaf cluster);[1] Meritorious Service Medal (with four Oak Leaf Clusters);[1] Air Medal (with numeral 4);[1] and Army Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters).[1] In addition, Crysel received: the Combat Infantryman Badge;[1] Expert Infantryman Badge;[1] Master Parachutist, Air Assault, and Pathfinder Badges;[1] and the Army Staff Identification Badge.[1]
Family
[edit]He is married to the former Trudy R. Eldridge. They have two children, Kirsten and James.[1] In retirement, Crysel resided in Fripp Island, South Carolina.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Army Executive Biographies.
- ^ a b The Delta of Sigma Nu.
- ^ a b "2002 Currahee Veterans Reunion".
- ^ "Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report".
- ^ "Who's Who from 5th Mobile Strike Force Command".
- ^ U.S. Army Register (1966).
- ^ U.S. Army Register (1972).
- ^ "Military News".
- ^ Jane's Defence Weekly.
- ^ a b "Infantry Division Command Change".
- ^ Presidential Nomination 886 — Maj. Gen. James W. Crysel — Army.
- ^ "Army General Impressed After Camp Shelby Visit".
- ^ "Obituary, Georgia Lane Crysel".
Sources
[edit]Books
[edit]- Department of the Army, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (May 15, 1985). Department of the Army Pamphlet 360-10, Army Executive Biographies. Headquarters, Department of the Army: Washington, DC. p. 563.
- United States Army Adjutant General (1966). U.S. Army Register, entry for James Wendell Crysel. Vol. 1. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army (via Ancestry.com). p. 129.
- United States Army Adjutant General (1972). U.S. Army Register, entry for James Wendell Crysel. Vol. 1. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army (via Ancestry.com). p. 94.
- Jane's Defence Weekly. Vol. 6. Coulsdon, England: Jane's Publishing Company. 1986. p. 506.
- The Delta of Sigma Nu. Vol. 113–115. Lexington, VA: Sigma Nu Fraternity. 1996. p. 1.
Among Brother Crysel's awards and decorations are the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal...
Newspapers
[edit]- "Infantry Division Command Change". Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu, HI. July 1, 1988. p. E-5.
- "Military News". Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu, HI. April 28, 1985. p. E-4.
- "Army General Impressed After Camp Shelby Visit". Clarksdale Press Register. Clarksdale, MI. Associated Press. April 21, 1990. p. 2A.
- "Obituary, Georgia Lane Crysel". The Daily Home. Talladega, AL. March 24, 2013.
Internet
[edit]- Sams, Kenneth; Aton, Bert B. (March 10, 1969). "Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report" (PDF). www.dtic.mil/. Ft. Belvoir, VA: Defense Technical Information Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 15, 2017.
- Kilkenny, Kevin (2002). "2002 Currahee Veterans Reunion". old.506infantry.org/. Folsom, CA: 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association.
- "Presidential Nomination 886 — Maj. Gen. James W. Crysel — Army". Congress.gov. Washington, DC: United States Senate. February 5, 1990.
- Sherman, Steve (April 18, 2013). "Who's Who from 5th Mobile Strike Force Command (B-55 Staff) (Draft)". specialforcesbooks.com/. Houston, TX: Radix Press.