<p>
<em>John "Jack" Joseph Hennessey </em>was born in Chicago, IL; attended St. Patricks Elementary School, and graduated from Mt. Carmel High School, where he played football. Over his summers, Jack worked the swing shift in the Carnegie Steel Mill near his home. Jack then attended St. Marys College in Winona, MN, for three years. An honor roll student, Jack was the junior class vice president, a soloist in the glee club, and played football, basketball, and baseball.</p>
<p>
During his years at St. Marys, the 1939-40 basketball team won the state championship, and Jack was named an all-conference player. On the state championship baseball team of 1941, Jack played first base and was a leading hitter. Considered a "Big Ten caliber" football player, Jack was St. Marys quarterback and, in 1939 and 1940, received honorable mention in the Associated Press all-Minnesota conference ratings. Jack was co-captain of the football and basketball teams in 1941 and earned five letters in two years.</p>
<p>
In 1941, Jack competed for an appointment from Representative R.S. McKeough of the 2nd Illinois Congressional District and joined the Class of ’45, which became the Class of ’44 as a result of WWII. A classmate wrote, "A collegiate athlete before entering West Point, Jack is one of those rare all-around athletes who have made West Point teams famous. This son of Eire, who comes from the tough southside of Chicago, is blessed with a typical Irish humor which wins him innumerable friends wherever he goes and is certain to win a strong feeling of devotion from his men." CDT Hennessey starred in football, basketball, and baseball, earning a major A in each, and was best all-around athlete in his class. He was class vice president and a cadet lieutenant.</p>
<p>
On 6 Jun 1944, Jack was commissioned an Infantry second lieutenant and, on 10 Jun 1944, married Mary J. George, his college sweetheart, in Winona, MN. Jack joined Company G, 76th Infantry, as a platoon leader and deployed overseas in December. In June 1945, Jack was assigned to command a company of the 310th Infantry and later served as S-1 (personnel) of the regiment. In January 1946, he became S-1 in the 3rd Infantry.</p>
<p>
Jack’s wife, Mary, was among the first military wives to travel by ship to Germany after the war ended, and their first son, John J., Jr., was born in Berlin in February 1947. In September, Jack returned to Ft. Benning as an instructor at the Infantry School, after which he attended the advanced course. Daughters Katie and Sally were born in March 1948 and January 1950, respectively.</p>
<p>
Next, Jack was assigned as assistant regimental operations officer of the 12th Infantry. In June 1951, he went with the unit to Germany, his family joining him in November. Promoted to major in July 1951, his subsequent assignments were battalion executive officer and battalion commander.</p>
<p>
He completed Command and General Staff College, where daughter Hope was born in January 1955. Then Jack served as aide to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, GEN Twining. Son Jim was born in January 1957 in Annandale, VA. After the Army War College in 1960, Jack served as secretary of the general staff at Headquarters, I Corps, in Korea. Jack then completed airborne school at Ft. Bragg and served as chief, operations division, G-3, XVIIIth Airborne Corps and commanded the 1st Airborne Battle Group, 187th Infantry. In 1964, Jack joined the 11th Air Assault Division at Ft. Benning and commanded the army’s first air mobile infantry unit, testing the concept of air mobility and developing early tactics and techniques. When the 11th Air Assault converted to the 1st Cavalry Division and deployed to VietNam, Jack commanded the Division Support Command and, later, the 1st Brigade.</p>
<p>
Jack was promoted to colonel in 1965, brigadier general in 1967, major general in 1970, lieutenant general in 1973, and four stars in 1974. He served as assistant division commander, 82nd Airborne Division; commander, 101 st Airborne Division in VietNam; commandant of the Command and General Staff College; chief of Reserve Components, U.S. Army; and commanding general, Fifth U.S. Army.</p>
<p>
Jack’s final assignment before retiring in 1979 was Commander in Chief, U.S. Readiness Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, FL, for five years. In a <em>Tampa Tribune</em> article, LTG "Buck" Patillo (USAF, Ret), Jacks deputy, said, "Hennessey was a model for those who served with him. He was a real fine gendeman and a straight shooter. He liked to stay in the background, but he knew his business and got the job done."</p>
<p>
Jack was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star for Valor with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and the Combat Infantryman, Army Aviator, and Master Parachutist badges.</p>
<p>
After retirement, Jack served on the University of Tampa board of trustees and as executive director of the Tampa Bay area research and development authority under the University of South Florida. His beloved wife, Mary, died of cancer in 1983. In 1986, Jack married Donna C. Rood, whom he loved and lived with happily until his death.</p>
<p>
Jack was admired, respected, and loved by his family, by those who worked with him, and by his friends. As noted in the <em>Tampa Tribune</em>, "General Hennessey exemplified soldier’ by his personal demeanor, and he inspired trust among all with whom he served." Retired Tampa businessman H. Grady Lester, Jr., said, "He was a gendeman first, last, and always."</p>
<p>
Jack is greatly missed by his five children and ten grandchildren.</p>