James M. Gavin(1907-1990)
- Additional Crew
James M. Gavin, grew up in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, and ran away
from home in his early teen years, never to return. He was commissioned
into the Infantry after graduating from the US Military Academy in
1929. Promoted Brigadier General in 1943, he was one of the youngest
generals in US Army history since George Armstrong Custer during the
American Civil War. Serving in a variety of command and administrative
posts after World War II, he become a strong opponent of nuclear war
and thus the Eisenhower administration. His policies and concerns
resulted in early retirement in 1957 as a lieutenant general. He took a
position as Chairman and CEO with the consulting firm Arthur D. Little
and Company, where he remained for 20 years, retiring in 1977.
President John F. Kennedy selected him to be United States Ambassador
to France in 1961, a post he served in until 1963, while officially on
leave from Little. His autobiography, On To Berlin, was published in
1979. He died of Parkinson's disease in 1990.