James B. Vaught
Lieutenant General James B. Vaught | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | "The General" |
| Born | November 3, 1926 |
| Died | September 20, 2013 (aged 86) |
| Buried | Tilly Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery Conway, South Carolina |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1944–1985 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | ROK-US Combined Forces Command 24th Infantry Division 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry |
| Conflicts | World War II Korean War Vietnam War Iran Hostage Crisis (Operation Eagle Claw) |
James Benjamin Vaught (November 3, 1926 – September 20, 2013) was a United States Army Lieutenant General who fought in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In South Korea he served as a company commander in the 24th Infantry Division. In 1967, in South Vietnam, on his first tour he served as the commanding officer of the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry. He also played a major role in numerous United States Special Forces operations. He was the overall commander of Operation Eagle Claw, the failed rescue mission of U.S. hostages in Iran in 1980.