John E. Jessup

John E. "Jack" Jessup, Col. USA Retired, 82, of 3701-42nd Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida, died Saturday February 7, 2009.  He was born in New York, NY and moved to St. Petersburg in 1999 from Springfield, VA. He was a OSS Swimmer in the Navy during WW II and then retired from the U. S. Army as a Colonel after 30 years serving as a Special Forces officer in Korea, and Viet Nam. He served as the Deputy Commander of the 3rd Infantry (Presidential Honor Guard). He was awarded four Purple Hearts, the Silver Star, and Bronze Star. John wrote: "Some of us who had been wounded were able to return to the platoon and help in trying to rebuild it, but it was never the same. One by one the old hands who had survived Hill 301 became casualties until, at the beginning of October, I was hurt seriously enough to be evacuated to Japan. I eventually went back to Korea for another combat tour and subsequently, over the next 30 years, served in numerous other infantry units. But none of these, in any way, ever measured up to those few months in 1950 when I was a rifle platoon leader, and no part of my life is so vividly etched in my memory". He was a 1970 cum laude graduate of Georgetown University with a Doctorate degree in Russian Studies. He was then a History Professor/Educational Director at George Mason University; Academic Dean of American Military University and The Teaching company (Mirus University). He was a member of the DETC Research & Educational Standards committee and served as a course evaluator for the American Council on Education. Most recently he was author of the yet unpublished book, THE FORGOTTEN, GHQ Raider Company in Korea, as well as many other publications specializing in Military History to include his latest published book AN ENCYCLOPEDIC DICTIONARY OF CONFLICT AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION, 1945-1996 published by Greenwood Press. He was a former Vice President of the St. Petersburg Military Officer’s Association of America as well a former President of US Commission of Military History and former Vice President of the International Commission of Military History. He is survived by his wife, Jean D.; 2 daughters, Julia (Alfredo) Tijerina of Naples, Florida; June Batcheller (Robert Vogt) of Arlington, VA; 1 stepdaughter, Ann M. Fischer of Clearwater, Florida; 1 stepson, Robert W. (Michelle) Fischer of Knoxville, TN; 1 granddaughter, Audrey Batcheller and 6 step grandchildren. Friends may call 12:00 Noon to service time at 1:00 P.M. Monday, Feb. 16, 2009 at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church 1600-54th Avenue South. Family and friends are invited to the family home after the service. Interment -- 9:00 AM March 12, 2009 at Arlington National Cemetery with Full Military Honors --- designated for members and former members of the 1st Battalion, Reinforced 3rd Infantry "The Old Guard." The family requests memorials to: U.S. Commission Military History Attn: Pat Harahan, Sec. Gen. P.O. Box 523431 West Springfield, VA 22152 The family invites you to sign the guest book above and relay anything you would like to share.  $(document).ready(function(){ });