Joseph J. Went

Infobox Military Person
name= Joseph J. Went
born= birth date|1930|9|16
died=
placeofbirth= New Milford, Connecticut
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption= General Joseph J. Went
nickname=
allegiance= flagicon|United States United States of America
branch= United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1952-1990
rank= General
commands= H&MS-12 VMA-214 Marine Aircraft Group 24 3rd FSSG 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
unit=
battles=
awards= Legion of Merit
laterwork=General Joseph J. Went (born September 16, 1930) is United States Marine Corps general who retired in 1990 after 38 years of service. His final role was as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and Chief of Staff.

Biography

Joseph J. Went was born in New Milford, Connecticut on 16 September, 1930. In 1953, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from the University of Connecticut. He also received a master’s degree in Business Administration from George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1963, and graduated with distinction from the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, in June 1972.

Marine Corps career

Went entered the Marine Corps in July 1952 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in December 1952. Following completion of The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia in June 1953, he underwent flight training at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. 2ndLt Went was promoted to first lieutenant on 18 August, 1954, and was designated a naval aviator a month later.

He was promoted to captain on 1 July, 1956, major on 1 November, 1963, lieutenant colonel on 1 October, 1967, and colonel on 1 July, 1974. During these years, he served with Marine attack, reconnaissance, transport and fighter squadrons. He commanded Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 12; Marine Attack Squadron 214; Marine Aircraft Group 24; the 3rd Force Service Support Group and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. He also had extensive experience in operational and joint planning, financial management and logistics.

Colonel Went assumed duty as Chief of Staff, 1st Marine Brigade, Hawaii, in April 1976. While serving in this capacity, he was selected in February 1978 for promotion to brigadier general. He assumed duty as Deputy Fiscal Director of the Marine Corps on 1 April, 1978 and was advanced to brigadier general on 1 August, 1978. In June 1980, he was assigned duty as Commanding General, 3rd Force Service Support Group (Rein), FMF, Pacific, Okinawa, Japan. He was advanced to major general on 2 June, 1982 and assigned duty as Commanding General, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, FMF, Pacific, Okinawa, Japan. MajGen Went served in this capacity until May 1983. On 6 June, 1983, he was assigned duty as the Deputy Commander, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii. During June 1984, MajGen Went reported to Headquarters Marine Corps where he was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Affairs. On 6 June, 1985, he became Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics and was promoted to lieutenant general on 1 August, 1985.

Lieutenant General Went was appointed to the grade of general and reassigned as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on 1 July, 1988. He assumed additional duties as the Chief of Staff on 6 October, 1988. He served in both these capacities until 31 July, 1990. Gen Went retired from the Marine Corps on 1 August, 1990 after 38 years of military service.

Awards and Decorations

General Went’s decorations include:

*

* (with Combat “V”)

* (third award)

*

*

* National Defense Service Medal (with bronze star in lieu of second award)

* (with three bronze stars in lieu of subsequent awards)

*

*

In retirement

General Went is on the board of directors of the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) which provides support services to military service members and their families. [cite web|url=http://www.asymca.org/a8.html
title=National Board of Directors, Armed Services YMCA
accessdate=2006-11-05]

Notes

References

:"This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps."
*cite web|url=http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Whos_Who/Went_JJ.htm
title=General Joseph J. Went, USMC
work= Who's Who in Marine Corps History
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps
accessdate=2006-11-05