John J Doody

John J "Jack" Doody

Commanding Officer 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

4th Infantry Division

1963-65

The Official US Army Register entries for John J. Doody for the years 1948 to 1969 :

Born in New Jersey on May 18, 1925.

Enlisted in the US Navy on May 20, 1943 and left the Navy on June 23, 1944.
Entered the US Military Academy on July 1, 1944 and graduated 288 out of a class of 301
on June 8, 1948. He was the Cadet Captain of Company D1 of the Corps Organization of Cadets for 1948.

Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry on June 8, 1948. He graduated from the Infantry School
Officers' Basic Course in 1949. He was given the temporary rank of Captain (AUS) on August 22, 1950.
Promoted to the temporary rank of Major (AUS) on October 12, 1954 and the permanent rank of Captain
on October 29, 1954. In 1954 he also graduated from the Infantry School Officers' Advanced Course.

Promoted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel (AUS) on January 16, 1962 and the permanent rank
of Major on June 8, 1962. In 1962 he also graduated from the US Army Command and General Staff College.

On June 23, 1967 he was promoted to the temporary rank of Colonel (AUS).

**********************

Colonel John J. Doody was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, May 18, 1925 to Dr and Mrs. William Doody.
Jack attended Xavier High School in New York City and graduated in 1942. He attended Columbia University for year
and then enlisted in the Navy 1943-1944 serving on a mine sweeper in WWII. Attended West Point 1944-1948
and upon his graduation he was assigned to the 24th Infantry Division Japan. In June of 1950 Jack was called upon
to deploy with LTC Brad Smith, Task Force Smith, to engage the North Koreans just north of Osan Korea
in the First Battle of the Korean War. 1st LT Doody fought gallantly as did others while conducting a delaying operation
on 5 July 1950 while in heavy contact with several thousand North Korean regulars. Jack is very proud of TF Smith's actions that day
and their Commander LTC Brad Smith.

Jack eventually rejoined his unit, B CO/ 1-21 Infantry and within a month received a battlefield promotion to Captain
and took charge of his company just prior to the break out of the Pusan perimeter. He lead his company in an assault river crossing
to outflank two enemy machine gun positions that had the rest of the battalion pinned down. He led his unit and assaulted through
two enemy positions and relieved pressure for the rest of the battalion to cross. For his actions that day he received the Silver Star.

CPT Jack Doody, would continue to command his company in numerous combat operations from the Naktong River to the Yalu
and finally culminating at the 34th parallel. His action in command would earn him the Combat Infantry Badge,
which he was honored to wear. He was also part of the Military Society of the Blue Badge (fraternity of combat infantrymen)

After Korea Jack went on serve in Germany and helped with the activation of the German Army – 1955. Served as
the Secretary of the General staff, Eighth Army, 62-63. Commanded the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, Fort Lewis, WA. 63-65.
Jack continued his service in Washington serving on the Army Staff in R&D and did a tour in Vietnam at MACV Headquarters 69-70.
He eventually landed in Germany and served as the Chief of Staff, 1st Infantry Division (FWD) Augsburg 70-72.
Success continued to move his career as the Special Assistant to Chief of Staff, SHAPE 72-74. Jack culminated his career
as the Professor of Military Science at Norwich University 74-78. He stayed on at Norwich to serve on the staff
until his last retirement in 1981 when he and his wife Jean moved to Florida

Jack's 31 year career spanned three Wars and numerous assignments with troops and in key staff positions.

Colonel Doody passed away on July 23, 2011 and will be buried in Arlington Cemetery.

The website is grateful to Lt. John McHenry-Plt Ldr B Co. & ass't S-3 air-(under Col. Daniels)
1/22 Infantry 4th Infantry Division Mar 1968-1969, for his assistance in preparing the above bio of LTC Doody.

LTC John J. Doody (left) presents the 1st Battalion Colors to LTC Len Morley at Ft. Lewis, WA., April 1965,
thereby turning over command of 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry to LTC Morley.

Photo from the 4th Infantry Division yearbook 1966

John Doody's decorations

Above: The entry for John J. Doody in the U.S. Military Academy yearbook the Howitzer 1948

Class of 1948

Cullum No. 16759

• Jul 23, 2011 •

Died in Fairfax, VA

Interred in Arlington National Cemetery, VA

John Joseph "Jack" Doody was born in Jersey City, NJ, on May 18, 1925, the son of Dr. and Mrs. William Doody.
Jack graduated from St. Francis Xavier High School in New York City and then served in the U.S. Navy on a minesweeper
during World War II. In 1944 Jack received an appointment to attend West Point. He initially entered in 1944 with the
Class of 1947 but later opted for the four year program and graduated with some 300 classmates in June 1948. Jack's first
assignment was at Ft. Benning, GA, but after a few months he left for Ft. Leavenworth, KS. In 1949 Jack sailed off
to his next assignment with the 24th Infantry Division, 21st Infantry Regiment in Japan.

Jack was first assigned with the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment working for Lieutenant Colonel Brad Smith.
Little did Jack know that a year later on Jun 25, 1950, he would be knee deep in the first battle of the Korean War with
"Task Force Smith." The North Koreans and Chinese had invaded South Korea and were threating the stability of the country.
The United States made the first impact by deploying Task Force Smith to fight a delaying action between Osan and
Suwon south of Seoul. Against heavy odds (6,000 to roughly 540) the Task Force defended the high ground on Hwy One,
Jul 5, 1950, using artillery battery and 4.2 inch mortars. The actions that day by Jack and others provided time for other
reinforcing units to enter the country and eventually pick up the fight. Yet, even though the unit fought gallantly that day
(and during the rest of the war), numerous soldiers lost their lives.

On Dec 2, 1950, Jack was wounded. After being awarded the Purple Heart, he rejoined his unit B Company, 1st Battalion,
21st Regiment as the executive officer. He later received a battlefield promotion to captain and took command of
Bravo Company for the remainder of the Korean War. Jack immediately answered the call to leadership by courageously
leading his troops in a river assault to defeat two enemy machine gun replacements that had pinned down the rest of the
battalion from crossing, and he received the Silver Star for his actions. He continued to fight through the Pusan Break Out,
all the way to the Yalu and back to the 38th Parallel. Jack's leadership, stamina, and command-from-the-front persona
served him well throughout the war.

After seeing action in Korea, Jack went on to serve in other key positions. He served with the 2nd Armored Division in Germany,
which assisted in rebuilding the German Army. He continued on to Command and General Staff College and then served as
the SGS for the Eighth Army Korea. Afterwards, he commanded 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry at Ft. Lewis, WA. He was then
reassigned to the Army Staff in the Pentagon serving in R&D for two years. During this time, he received a business degree
from George Washington University. Jack was then selected to attend the Industrial War College and served with MACV
in Vietnam for a year. After that Jack’s next assignment was as the 3rd Brigade Commander, 1st Infantry Division FWD
in Augsburg, Germany, and two years later he went on to serve for SACEUR in SPACOS as a special assistant
to the Chief of SHAPE in Belgium.

Jack's friend John Wadsworth ’48 was the Commandant of Cadets at Norwich University in Northfield, VT, and coaxed Jack
into taking a final assignment in ROTC as the Professor of Military Science (PMS) for Norwich Cadets. Jack retired in 1978.
His retirement ceremony was held in the stadium at Norwich with General Don Starry ’48 presiding as the official speaker.

Those who knew Jack will always carry the image of a brave warrior who experienced the worst and gave the best.
Even as his hair became gray, he was known as one who served his country, his fellow man, and God.

Jack married Jean Kilbride in Connecticut, Jun 25, 1949, and they shared 62 years of romance, adventure, and happiness together.
They have three sons: John J. Doody II (wife Mildred ), Colonel (Ret USAF) James M Doody (wife Claire), and
Colonel (Ret USA) Mark T. Doody (wife Kathleen). They also have five grandchildren: Alyssa, Catlin, and William
(James and Claire), Laura and Matthew (Mark and Kathleen), and one great-grandson, Hunter (Alyssa and her husband Patrick).

Awards and Decorations: Combat Infantry Badge, Silver Star, Medal Bronze Star, Medal Purple Heart, Legion of Merit,
two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Staff Commendation Medal, Army Staff Commendation Medal.

From the West Point Association of Graduates website

John J. Doody is

buried in Arlington National Cemetery

Section 60 Grave 9919

Grave marker for John J. Doody

Photo from the Arlington National Cemetery website

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