He served in various command positions ranging from company commander to brigade commander in both the Atlantic and Pacific theater of operations. Sheehan assumed command of 8th Marine Regiment from 14 November 1986 to 16 May 1988.[4] Sheehan's served a combat tour in Desert Shield/Desert Storm.[3] His staff positions included duties as regimental, division, and service headquarters staff officer as well as joint duty with the United States Army, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the U.S. Atlantic Command.[3]
Before assuming his final duties as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic and Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command on October 31, 1994, General Sheehan served as Director for Operations, J-3, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C. General Sheehan retired from the Marine Corps on September 24, 1997.[3]
In 1998, Sheehan joined Bechtel International as a senior vice president.[3] While remaining with Bechtel, Sheehan joined the Military Officers Association of America board of directors in 2012. He became chairman of the board in 2016.[5]
Controversy
In March 2010 he testified to the US Congress that according to the chief of staff of the Dutch Army at the time of the incident, the fall of Srebrenica was caused by lack of readiness related to the Dutch being more concerned with internal 'socialisation' of the military than fighting capacity. Sheehan stated it was in part due to homosexual men serving in the military. During the same testimony, Sheehan stated that gays weakened the army, while attraction between men and women in gender-integrated units would not.[6][7][8][9] Speculation has it that Sheehan meant General Henk van den Breemen, Dutch chief of staff at the time of the Srebrenica genocide. General van den Breemen denied having said such a thing and called Sheehan's comments "total nonsense".[7] Dutch Minister of Defense Eimert van Middelkoop stated that Sheehan's statement was "disgraceful," "unworthy of anyone in the military".[10] Prime-Minister Jan Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands stated that Sheehan's words are "shameful", "outrageous", "beneath contempt" and "disrespectful towards all troops involved".[11][12] Dutch advocates of gay rights, organized in the Pink Army (foundation) and the Stichting Homosexualiteit en Krijgsmacht ("Foundation Homosexuality and Armed Forces"), announced a libel lawsuit against Sheehan, demanded public apologies, and for Sheehan to follow sensitivity training.[13] The majority of the Dutch parliament voiced their support for the class action.[14]
On March 29, 2010, Dutch media reported that Sheehan had sent an e-mail[15] to his Dutch colleague General Henk van den Breemen in which he apologized for his comments. He stated that his memory of the conversation was inaccurate.[16]
^Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and Reserve Officers on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. January 1, 1965. p. 940.
^Department of Defense Appropriations for 1998: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifth Congress, First Session. 2002. ISBN9780160692451.
^ abcde. Tecom.usmc.mil. Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
^(PDF). www.usmcu.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
^"Board of Directors" 2017-12-04 at the Wayback Machine, Military Officers Association of America, Alexandria, Virginia, accessed 3 December 2017.
^"General Sheehan: gays responsible for Srebrenica massacre" on YouTube
^ ab"Dutch fuming at retired US general's gays comment". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2010-03-19.[dead link]
john, sheehan, this, article, about, united, states, marine, corps, general, other, uses, john, sheehan, disambiguation, john, joseph, jack, sheehan, born, august, 1940, retired, united, states, marine, corps, general, final, active, duty, commands, culminatin. This article is about the United States Marine Corps general For other uses see John Sheehan disambiguation John Joseph Jack Sheehan 1 born August 23 1940 is a retired United States Marine Corps general His final active duty commands culminating 35 years of service in the Marine Corps were as the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic SACLANT for NATO and as Commander in Chief for the U S Atlantic Command CINCUSACOM 1994 1997 Jack SheehanBorn 1940 08 23 August 23 1940 age 82 Somerville MassachusettsAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branchUnited States Marine CorpsYears of service1962 1997RankGeneralCommands heldSupreme Allied Commander Atlantic NATOCommander in Chief U S Atlantic CommandAwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal 2 Silver StarDefense Superior Service MedalBronze Star 2 w Valor VPurple Heart 2 Other workBechtel International Sr VPU S State Dept Defense Policy Board Contents 1 Life and career 2 Controversy 3 Awards and decorations 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksLife and career EditSheehan was born on August 23 1940 in Somerville Massachusetts 2 The son of Irish immigrants he is one of seven children He graduated with a B A degree in English from Boston College in June 1962 After graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U S Marine Corps As a captain Sheehan was awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry during combat operations from September 14 to 17 1968 He holds an M S degree from Georgetown University in Government His professional military education includes the Amphibious Warfare School Naval Command and Staff College and National War College 3 He served in various command positions ranging from company commander to brigade commander in both the Atlantic and Pacific theater of operations Sheehan assumed command of 8th Marine Regiment from 14 November 1986 to 16 May 1988 4 Sheehan s served a combat tour in Desert Shield Desert Storm 3 His staff positions included duties as regimental division and service headquarters staff officer as well as joint duty with the United States Army the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the U S Atlantic Command 3 Before assuming his final duties as Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic and Commander in Chief U S Atlantic Command on October 31 1994 General Sheehan served as Director for Operations J 3 Joint Staff Washington D C General Sheehan retired from the Marine Corps on September 24 1997 3 In 1998 Sheehan joined Bechtel International as a senior vice president 3 While remaining with Bechtel Sheehan joined the Military Officers Association of America board of directors in 2012 He became chairman of the board in 2016 5 Controversy EditIn March 2010 he testified to the US Congress that according to the chief of staff of the Dutch Army at the time of the incident the fall of Srebrenica was caused by lack of readiness related to the Dutch being more concerned with internal socialisation of the military than fighting capacity Sheehan stated it was in part due to homosexual men serving in the military During the same testimony Sheehan stated that gays weakened the army while attraction between men and women in gender integrated units would not 6 7 8 9 Speculation has it that Sheehan meant General Henk van den Breemen Dutch chief of staff at the time of the Srebrenica genocide General van den Breemen denied having said such a thing and called Sheehan s comments total nonsense 7 Dutch Minister of Defense Eimert van Middelkoop stated that Sheehan s statement was disgraceful unworthy of anyone in the military 10 Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands stated that Sheehan s words are shameful outrageous beneath contempt and disrespectful towards all troops involved 11 12 Dutch advocates of gay rights organized in the Pink Army foundation and the Stichting Homosexualiteit en Krijgsmacht Foundation Homosexuality and Armed Forces announced a libel lawsuit against Sheehan demanded public apologies and for Sheehan to follow sensitivity training 13 The majority of the Dutch parliament voiced their support for the class action 14 On March 29 2010 Dutch media reported that Sheehan had sent an e mail 15 to his Dutch colleague General Henk van den Breemen in which he apologized for his comments He stated that his memory of the conversation was inaccurate 16 Awards and decorations EditHis decorations and medals include 1st Row Defense Distinguished Service Medal w 1 oak leaf cluster2nd Row Silver Star Defense Superior Service Medal Bronze Star w 1 award star amp valor device Purple Heart w 1 award star3rd Row Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal4th Row Combat Action Ribbon Navy Presidential Unit Citation Navy Unit Commendation Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal5th Row National Defense Service Medal w 1 service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal w 5 service stars Southwest Asia Service Medal w 2 service stars6th Row Humanitarian Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon Arctic Service Ribbon Vietnam Gallantry Cross w 2 silver stars7th Row Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal 2nd class National Order of Merit France Officer Order of Merit Portugal Grand Cross Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary Commander s Cross with Star Military 8th Row Royal Norwegian Order of Merit Grand Cross Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Vietnam Campaign Medal Kuwait Liberation Medal Saudi Arabia Badge Supreme Allied Commander AtlanticSee also EditSexual orientation and the military of the Netherlands Sexual orientation and gender identity in military servicePortal BiographyReferences Edit Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and Reserve Officers on Active Duty Bureau of Naval Personnel January 1 1965 p 940 Department of Defense Appropriations for 1998 Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations House of Representatives One Hundred Fifth Congress First Session 2002 ISBN 9780160692451 a b c d e History Division Tecom usmc mil Archived from the original on 2011 06 15 Retrieved 2010 03 19 2ND MARINE DIVISION AND ITS REGIMENTS PDF www usmcu edu Archived from the original PDF on 2020 10 26 Retrieved 2016 04 10 Board of Directors Archived 2017 12 04 at the Wayback Machine Military Officers Association of America Alexandria Virginia accessed 3 December 2017 General Sheehan gays responsible for Srebrenica massacre on YouTube a b Dutch fuming at retired US general s gays comment washingtonpost com Retrieved 2010 03 19 dead link Sheehan Gays weakened European militaries Retired U S general links gays in army to genocide Archived 2010 03 23 at the Wayback Machine Anti homo uitspraken Sheehan militair onwaardig Blik op Nieuws nl Zuid Holland Blikopnieuws nl Retrieved 2010 03 19 Balkenende uitlating generaal over homoseksuele militairen schandelijk Trouw in Dutch Trouw nl 2010 03 19 Retrieved 2010 03 19 Ben Berkowitz 2010 03 19 Dutch lash out at gay link in Srebrenica massacre Reuters Retrieved 2010 03 22 in Dutch Homostichtingen willen excuses van Sheehan Archived 2012 10 07 at the Wayback Machine in Dutch Kamer steunts excuuseis general Sheehan Email Sheehan to Van den Breemen permanent dead link in Dutch VS general Sheehan apologizes External links EditAppearances on C SPAN Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John J Sheehan amp oldid 1131714893, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
