Stephen Silvasy Jr.

Stephen Silvasy Jr.
Stephen Silvasy Jr.
Born	October 24, 1941 (age 83); Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1963–1998
Rank	Major General
Commands	United States Army Pacific
Battles / wars	Dominican Civil War; Vietnam War; Invasion of Grenada
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2); Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star (2); Legion of Merit (5); Soldier's Medal; Bronze Star Medal (3); Purple Heart

Stephen Silvasy Jr. (born October 24, 1941) was a major general in the United States Army who served as acting commander of United States Army Pacific in 1996. He is an alumnus of the US Military Academy and US Naval Postgraduate School. He also received military education at the Armed Forces Staff College and US Army War College.^[1]^[2]

Career

Silvasy saw combat duty in three different countries. From 1964 to 1965 he participated in the US intervention in the Dominican Republic with the 82nd Airborne Division. From 1966 to 1967 he served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. In 1983 he was back with the 82nd Airborne for the invasion of Grenada.

As a young Lieutenant Colonel Silvasy was stationed in Korea between 1976 and 1978 as Battalion Commander of the 1/32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division with forward base at Camp Howze.^[3]^[4] The 1/32nd Infantry was a Congressional approved combat unit for the Demilitarized Zone. Called "Buccaneers", these elite soldiers (air borne, infantry, rangers, special forces and others) of the unit wore a yellow arrowhead (spearhead) on the left pocket side of their uniforms signifying the tip of the point. Under the leadership of Silvasy neither the heat of summer nor the frigid cold of winter stopped "Buccaneers" from patrolling the DMZ halting any North Korean Commandos from infiltrating into South Korea. Before the unit temporarily disbanded on 28 May 1978 under the orders of President Jimmy Carter, Silvasy served with Richard A. Kidd who ultimately became the Ninth Sergeant Major of the Army.^[5]

Some of Silvasy's key duty assignments were as Director of the Operational Plans and Interoperability Directorate for the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. In Korea he served as Assistant Chief of Staff for the UN Command in Seoul. He also served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Doctrine and Development with the US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) in Fort Monroe, Virginia. He was also Deputy Commanding General of US Army Pacific prior to his stint as commander.^[6]

Awards and decorations

	Combat Infantryman Badge
	Ranger tab
	Master Parachutist Badge
	Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
	Army Staff Identification Badge
	325th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
	Thai Parachutist Badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Army Distinguished Service Medal
	Silver Star
	Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters
	Soldier's Medal
	Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and two oak leaf clusters
	Purple Heart
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal
	Air Medal
	Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Meritorious Unit Commendation
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with service star
	Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars
	Army Service Ribbon
	Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 2
	Vietnam Gallantry Cross with gold star
	Order of National Security Merit, Cheon-Su Medal (Republic of Korea)
	French National Order of Merit, Officer
	Bundeswehr Gold Cross of Honor
	Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
	Vietnam Campaign Medal

References

This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: [3]

[1] [1]

[2] [2]

[3] 32nd Infantry Regiment (United States)

[4] ttp://www.myveteran.org/2017/11/military-duty.html

[5] Richard A. Kidd

[6] ttp://www.usarpac.army.mil/dcg.asp

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