James Benjamin Lampert, American university administrator, retired army officer Decorated Distinguished Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Army Commendation medal; Order Rising Sun 1st class (Japan). Registered profile engineer, District of Columbia.
Background
On April 16, 1914, Lampert was the son of Lieutenant Colonel James G. B. Lampert, United States Military Academy 1910, who died in January 1919 while serving with the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe. He spent his childhood in Wisconsin, where his mother moved after his father died.
Education
Bachelor of Science, United States Military Academy, 1936. Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Massachusetts Institute Technology, 1939. Graduated from Army Engineer School, 1940, National War College, 1958.
Career
Lampert was General Leslie Groves" executive officer as part of the Manhattan Project after World World War World War II
Born in Washington, District of Columbia Upon graduating 36th in his class of 276, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery branch, but within a year transferred to the Engineer branch. With the onset of World World War II, Lampert was assigned to the South Pacific where he commanded an engineer aviation battalion in the Fiji Islands and Solomon Islands. In January 1944 he became the XIV Corps chief engineer, where he participated in the invasion of Luzon, Philippines, and the subsequent liberation of Manila in March 1945.
Following the war, Lampert joined the Air Force"s Special Weapons Project and became the executive officer to Lieutenant General Leslie R. Groves, who was chief of the Manhattan Project (1947–1949).
Lampert was the chief district engineer in the Charleston, South Carolina and Tulsa, Oklahoma districts from 1949 to 1952. He returned to the field of nuclear energy in 1952, he became the Officer-in-Charge of the joint Nuclear Power Program.
In 1957, Lampert attended the National War College. He then was assigned to Saigon, Vietnam, where he became Deputy Chief for Logistics for the Military Assistance Advisory Group-Vietnam (later MACV).
After his tour in Vietnam, Lampert was assigned to the Pentagon as the director of military construction at the Office of the Chief of Engineers, a post he held until assuming command at West Point in as the 46th Superintendent (1963 – 1966).
After leaving the academy, Lampert was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (1966 – 1968). In 1969 he became the commanding general and high commissioner of the Ryukyu Islands until his retirement in 1972. Lampert died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, District of Columbia in 1978.
Achievements
James Benjamin Lampert has been listed as a noteworthy university administrator, army officer by Marquis Who's Who.
Membership
Fellow American Society of Civil Engineers, Society American Military Engineers. Member Association United States Army, Retired Officers Association, Council Foreign Relations, Association Graduates United States Military Academy (president 1978).
Connections
Married Margery Frances Mitchell, June 26, 1937. Children: James B., Richard B., Hester A. (Mistress Hill).
Bronze Star Medal; legionnaire of Legion of Merit; Silver Star; Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.