Retired US Army General John W Vessey dies aged 94

Retired Army General John W Vessey, who rose through the ranks in a 46-year military career to become chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and help oversee President Ronald Reagan’s military build-up, has died at the age of 94.

Vessey enlisted as a private in the Minnesota National Guard in 1939, fought in the Second World War and Vietnam, and was the nation’s top military officer when he retired to his home state of Minnesota in 1985.

His daughter, Sarah Vessey, told the Associated Press he died of natural causes on Thursday, surrounded by family.

He and wife Avis had two other children – John III and David.

After being named chairman of the joint chiefs of staff in 1982, Vessey helped oversee the military expansion that Mr Reagan championed when he took office just over a year earlier.

Vessey said the Soviet Union had been making a “big push” to solidify its position in Europe, deploying SS20 nuclear missiles and strengthening its ground forces in East Germany, “dabbling” in West European elections at a time when Nato was unstable, and stepping up its espionage.

By the time Vessey retired in 1985, he said, Nato was strong once again, the United States had deployed Pershing II and cruise missiles in response to the Soviet SS20s, and negotiations with the Soviets to eliminate each side’s inter mediate-range missiles were just about complete.

Even in retirement, Vessey was asked for help by presidents and the Pentagon.

Mr Reagan sent Vessey back to Vietnam in 1987 to account for Americans missing in action and bring back any still alive.

In 1992, President George HW Bush awarded Vessey the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award.

Gen John Vessey, left, and defence secretary Casper Weinberger.