John Paul Vann

John Paul Vann (Lieutenant Colonel)
Birth name	John Paul Tripp
Born	(1924-07-02)July 2, 1924 Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Died	June 9, 1972(1972-06-09) (aged 47) Kon Tum, South Vietnam
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Air Forces (1943–1947) United States Army (1947–1963)
Years of service	1943–1963
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal (2) Army Commendation Medal (2) Purple Heart
Alma mater	Rutgers University (BS) Syracuse University (MBA)

John Paul Vann (born John Paul Tripp; July 2, 1924 – June 9, 1972) was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, later retired, who became well known for his role in the Vietnam War. Although separated from the military before the Vietnam War reached its peak, he returned to service as a civilian under the auspices of the United States Agency for International Development and by the waning days of the war was the first American civilian to command troops in regular combat there. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was the only civilian in Vietnam to receive the Distinguished Service Cross. He died on June 9, 1972, in a helicopter crash in Vietnam just after the Battle of Kontum.