SJ534: Celebrating the life of Major General Adrian St. John II.
WHEREAS, United States Army Major General Adrian St. John II, a respected career military officer and distinguished statesman, died on January 6, 2007; and
WHEREAS, Adrian St. John experience the rigors of Army service throughout his life, living with his father, Colonel Adrian St. John I, wherever he was stationed around the world; his mother, Marie, died when he was three years old; and
WHEREAS, General St. John graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Class of January 1943; and
WHEREAS, General St. John’s military service began with World War II and ended 54 years later with his service in Broko, Bosnia; and
WHEREAS, General St. John’s longtime involvement in European negotiations established him as an architect of European security, and he was a major influence regarding the size, composition, and disposition of the United States Army around the world; and
WHEREAS, General St. John easily related to people from all walks of life, and with his military training and discipline, proved invaluable in major United States negotiations; and
WHEREAS, in 1952, General St. John was sent to Formosa at the personal request of then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Omar Bradley, with a mission to report directly to General Chihjou, Chairman of the Kuomintang or Nationalist Party of China; and
WHEREAS, while on a secret visit with General Chihjou’s forces, General St. John came under a mortar attack and was severely wounded, but he managed to continue reporting from his hospital bed and his recommendations became formal United States policy; and
WHEREAS, General St. John’s promotions led to senior staff positions with the Commander of United States Military Assistance Command in Vietnam and with the Chief of Strategic Plans and Policy at the Pentagon and as commander of the 14th Armored Cavalry in Europe and commanding general of the 1st Armored Division in Germany; and
WHEREAS, General St. John retired from his assignment as vice director of the United States Joint Staff in 1977, when he was completing all but his dissertation for a doctoral degree from American University; and
WHEREAS, in 1982, his wife of 39 years, Petronella “Penny” Durham St. John, died, and General St. John was soon recalled to government service as the Joint Chief of Staff representative to the Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction negotiations, the Conventional Stability talks, and the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe talks; he was headquartered in Vienna, Austria, until his retirement in 1992; and
WHEREAS, as senior staff representative and military expert to six ambassadors over a period of 10 years, his outstanding efforts led to the achievement of United States goals in those negotiations; and
WHEREAS, General St. John received numerous awards for his extraordinary service, including being honored by three United States presidents for his skills in representing the nation; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, General St. John was honored by his alma mater, the United States Military Academy at West Point, with its Distinguished Graduate Award for his exceptional devotion to duty, his extensive knowledge of world affairs and politics, and his pivotal role in advancing the concept of peace in Europe; and
WHEREAS, General St. John will be fondly remembered for his fierce sense of duty to his country and his wonderful stories and greatly missed by his devoted wife, Dr. Florence Parrish St. John, his wonderful family, especially his 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and other loving family members and friends; and
WHEREAS, General St. John remained active to the end at The Fairfax retirement facility and was a charter member of the Voter Education Committee to inform senior residents of political issues and to provide opportunities to meet elected officials and candidates for public office; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby mourn the death of an outstanding public servant and patriotic Virginian, Major General Adrian St. John II; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Major General Adrian St. John II as an expression of the high regard in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly and the citizens of the Commonwealth.