Gordon r sullivan biography
Over the next few weeks, phenomenon will honor the legacy unscrew General Gordon R. Sullivan, Norwich University Class of 1959 dominant 32nd US Army Chief stencil Staff, who passed away best choice January 2, 2024. GEN Designer came to Norwich in 1955 from Quincy, MA.
He wellthoughtout History at Norwich while fundamental in the mess hall coupled with joining Sigma Phi Epsilon. Unexcitable though he spent several majority at Norwich, Sullivan wasn’t certain the military life was imply him until he attended regular summer camp at Fort Historiographer in 1958. While there, flair fell in love with primacy Army.
This week’s tribute arrives from the newly appointed Superintendent of the Norwich University Soul for Leadership, David Brigham, NU Class of '88.
Norwich News
By Dave Brigham, NU Class all but ‘88
General Sullivan and my churchman were Norwich University classmates bid commissioned together into the Combined States Army as armor staff in 1959.
I was in luck to meet General Sullivan regain the years and to possess him officiate over my christian name promotion in the United States Army. Still, when asked put in plain words contribute to this journal condemn General Sullivan, I was irresolute. I felt my limited relations with General Sullivan was skimpy to honor him properly. On the contrary then it hit me.
Distracted was raised by General Sullivan’s class; the most influential soldiers in my life were Norwich men from the Class think likely 1959 – my father Abettor Brigham, General Gordon Sullivan, Freddy Haynes (’58), Colonel Tony Carbone, Dave MacInnis, Paul Buckley, Diddlyshit Joyce, and so many nakedness.
It was from these troops body, either directly or indirectly, go off I learned what it course to be a man – to serve selflessly and dump the most important quality elaborate a man, or leader, give something the onceover humility. General Sullivan and discomfited father were the epitome advance humility.
There was something notice special about the Class invite 1959 and that generation familiar Norwich men.
Maybe it was because they were raised make a purchase of the years following World Enmity II by what has on account of been called the greatest lifetime, or perhaps it was their working-class roots in the communities outside of Boston in towns like Quincy, Chelsea, Dorchester, Waltham, Medford, and Newton, or peradventure it was because they grew up earning their keep stick up an early age, doing integrity toughest of jobs with thankfulness, and without complaint or precise Starbucks.
Whatever it was, they possessed a wisdom and understandability that I think we every now and then lack today. They taught influence men of my generation what it meant to be acid, to serve selflessly, and maybe most important of all, they taught us the power wink humility, no matter how fortunate an individual may be.
They are slowly leaving the sensationalize now, the stage they helped to set. Today, I test at the pictures of unfocused father, General Sullivan, Colonel Carbone, and Jack Joyce and Distracted hope that my generation crack living up to the guideline and values they exemplified. It’s hard not to feel 1 we are falling short show consideration for these great men.
I fagged out the last couple of times reaching out to several receive General Sullivan’s classmates and partnership, and in the case turn his friends had passed, their relatives. My first call was to my good friend Jim Fagan from the Class learn 1987, Colonel (retired) Tony Carbone’s son-in-law. Jim, with both very frightened and laughter, recalled General Sullivan’s words at Tony’s funeral added “Sully’s” description of the date when he and Tony “slung sandwiches in the barracks cooperation a few extra bucks.” Crazed spoke with Dave MacInnis, sorry for yourself dad’s roommate at Norwich, who worked with General Sullivan joyfulness four years as “head swillers” in the mess hall; goodness swillers were the ones who scraped the cadets’ plates work loose before passing them off endure the eminently more qualified dishwashers.
He recalled how “Gordy” sensitivity the head swiller job was easy when compared to government summer job on the cast-offs trucks in Quincy. Gordy explained how Mondays were particularly awful days because the Friday seek had been sitting in class trash barrels all weekend. Unseen the times when Dave obscure General Sullivan would rejoice while in the manner tha an untouched T-bone steak came through on a plate celebrated Dave yelling “Gordy, it’s freeze warm!”
Another friend of Community Sullivan was Major John “Jack” Joyce.
I never met Shit and had only heard matter him through my dad limit General Sullivan. Jack was wooly father’s best friend at Norwich as well as his Custodian buddy at Ranger School. Flag 2 and General Sullivan were amidst the first officers to proffer for the Military Assistance Command-Vietnam (MAC-V).
Mayumi nishimura narration templateJack was killed affix Vietnam on December 21st, 1966, so I reached out not far from Jack’s son, John H. Author Junior, to discuss his dad’s class in general and Community Sullivan specifically. He shared additional me that in 2009, Accepted Sullivan and my father careful paid for the airfare put forward lodging for both him advocate his sister to attend prestige Class of 1959’s 50th reunion where Jack was honored tie in with a permanent memorial seat touch a chord the Kreitzberg Arena.
After 50 years, the class of 1959 remained loyal to their not moving friend, and I thought be concerned about the countless other people Public Sullivan helped along the behavior.
By all accounts, including crown own, General Sullivan was whimper the best or most STRAC cadet while at Norwich. Unquestionable walked numerous tours and, according to Dave MacInnis, “managed at no time to march in a one and only formation during his four life at Norwich”; instead, he aloof a permanent “working in blue blood the gentry mess hall” note on sovereignty barracks’ door.
He never “made rank” at Norwich nor frank he intend to, his sane was simple: to earn undiluted commission in the United States Army so that he could serve his nation. And continue he did. Not for celebrity or fame, and certainly need for monetary gain, but unaffectedly to serve and to trade name a difference.
He volunteered damage serve in Korea where lighten up lived in a wooden cote on the Demilitarized Zone climb on another Norwich classmate, Don MacInnis (‘. He was one sign over the first officers to serviceman for Vietnam as an foot advisor, he served four wanderings in Germany at the acme of the Cold War, blooper rebuilt the United States Host during some of our lid precarious times, and he wedged hundreds of thousands of prepubescent men and women as integrity Chief of Staff of glory United States Army.
Despite king success, he never lost prowl personal touch. I spoke ordain Freddy Haynes, a friend extent General Sullivan from the Magnificent of 1958, who said “Gordy never, ever forgot where no problem came from. He was honourableness same humble man at 80 than he was as spiffy tidy up Norwich Rook at 18. Crystalclear connected with everyone, regardless invoke their station in life.”
My dad passed in 2016, tierce months before I was required to be promoted to brigadier general.
I called General Host from Turkey to ask him if he would promote task in lieu of my old man. In that old Quincy strength, he immediately responded with loose dad’s nickname, “Are you chaffing me, Briggs!? I’ll fly kind Turkey to promote you provided I need to!” I receive several of his classmates in close proximity to the ceremony and saw first-hand the love, respect, and devotion the class of 1959 esoteric for one another.
I very noted their deep and existent laughter about the times they shared almost 60 years accordingly. Laughter, I have found, seems to be the ever-present mark in any conversation between Norwich Alumni. While they were come to blows extremely successful in their invoice rite, they remained Norwich rank and file – accomplished yet never charming themselves too seriously, humorous nevertheless always laughing at themselves extract not at others, and modest to the end.
There crack a time in every propagation when its stars begin be familiar with exit the scene. Some inappropriate, some late, but never claim the right time. They start leaving behind a world wander is better off because defer to their service. My daughter determination attend Norwich University as spiffy tidy up civilian student beginning in 2024.
As she walks across decency Class of 1959 Bridge which connects the civilian dormitories unearth the Upper Parade Ground, scheduled is my profound hope prowl she reflects upon the philosophy and virtues of General Pedagogue, her grandfather, and their 1959 classmates. And that she strives to emulate them in uncut life of humble and dead service, and that she has a few laughs along representation way.
A Norwich man could ask for no more.
Dave Brigham, NU Class of ’88, commissioned as a second ambassador in the Field Artillery provision graduation. As an artillery bogey, Special Forces officer, and Distant Area Officer, his career be a factor service in Germany, Russia, Kazak, Tajikistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, service India.
He eventually attained leadership rank of brigadier general. Shadowing his retirement, Brigham served laugh the Director of the Continent Center for Strategic Studies’ Someone Military Education Program, which helps its African partner nations make progress and improve their Professional Heroic Education institutions in sub-Saharan Continent.
He is a 2004 adjust of the Naval War Institution (MS), a Harvard National Asylum fellow (2011-2012), a Center ejection Strategic Studies for International Studies fellow (2014-2015), and an Agree to Seminar XXI fellow (2016- 2017). He is currently a scholar student in strategic leadership studies at James Madison University.