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James David Thurman
Cmd genthurmand official
General James D. Thurman, USA
Commander, United Nations Command
Commander, R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command and
Commander, U.S. Forces Korea
Born September 19, 1953(1953-09-19) (age 70)[1]
Place of birth Gainesville, Texas[2]
Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1975-present
Rank US-O10 insignia General
Commands held United Nations Command
R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command
U.S. Forces Korea
U.S. Army Forces Command
V Corps
4th Infantry Division
Battles/wars Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards Legion of Merit (3)
Bronze Star

James David Thurman (born September 19, 1953) is a United States Army general serving as the Commander of United Nations Command, R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea from July 14, 2011 until October 2, 2013.[3] He previously served as the 18th Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces Command from June 3, 2010 to July 8, 2011. Prior to that, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7.[4] He was the former commanding general of United States V Corps in Heidelberg, Germany from January 19, 2007 to August 8, 2007. He assumed his current assignment on July 14, 2011.

Early life and education[]

Thurman is a native of Marietta, Oklahoma, United States. He received a Bachelor of Arts in History from East Central University and a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University. Thurman received a Regular Army Commission from the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1975.

Army career[]

Defense

Thurman (right) in August 2006, talking to General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Thurman began his career in the 4th Infantry Division serving as Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Motor Officer for 6th Battalion, 32d Armor. He has commanded at all levels from Company to Division. After attending the Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course, he commanded the Aero-Scout Platoon and later became the Operations Officer, A Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. From 1981-1982, he attended the Armor Officer Advanced Course, United States Army Armor School, Fort Knox, Kentucky. Upon completion, Thurman attended the AH-64 Aviator Qualification Course, United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and he then served as Executive Officer, 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. During 1989-1991, Thurman served as Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 32d Armor, 1st Cavalry Division and Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia. Thurman’s previous assignments also include Commander of 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment; 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany; Commander, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Georgia; Commander, Operations Group, United States Army National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California; Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Plans and Policy, Allied Forces Southern Europe, Regional Command South, Italy; Commanding General, National Training Center and Fort Irwin, Fort Irwin, California; Director of Training, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3, United States Army; and Chief, Operations, Coalition Forces Land Component Command, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Camp Doha, Kuwait.

Thurman left Kuwait to become the Director, Army Aviation Task Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3, United States Army in Washington, D.C., where he remained until his arrival at Fort Hood as the 4th Infantry commanding general.

Promotion to General

On October 2, 2006, Thurman was nominated for promotion by President George W. Bush for appointment to the rank of Lieutenant General. His receipt of promotion and his third star was January 19, 2007. On December 19, 2006, Thurman took over assignment in Heidelberg, Germany as the commanding general of V Corps along with the U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army. He returned from the Iraq War with the 4th Infantry Division in November 2006 after a second tour.

Awards[]

Awards and decorations
Defense Distinguished Service ribbon Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Service Medal ribbon
Distinguished Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit ribbon
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star ribbon
Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster
Silver oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service ribbon
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal ribbon Army Commendation Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal ribbon
Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf cluster
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal ribbon
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
AFEMRib Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
Southwest Asia Service ribbon
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars
Bronze star
KosovoRib
Kosovo Campaign Medal with one bronze service star
Iraq Campaign ribbon Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral 5)
Bronze star
NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar
NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia
Us sa-kwlib rib Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Us kw-kwlib rib Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Valorous Unit Award ribbon Valorous Unit Award
Army Superior Unit Award ribbon Superior Unit Award

Badges
Combat Action Badge  Combat Action Badge
ArmyAvnBadge  Senior Aviator Badge
US Army Airborne basic parachutist badge  Parachutist Badge
GeneralStaffID  Army Staff Identification Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal  Joint Staff Identification Badge
4 Infantry Division SSI  4th Infantry Division Combat Service Identification Badge (CSIB)

References[]

PD-icon This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "http://www.vcorps.army.mil/leaders/Biography-ThurmanJamesD_2007-04.pdf".

External links[]

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