James William Sutherland (1918–1987) was a United States Army Lieutenant General, who served as commander of XXIV Corps during the Vietnam War.

James William Sutherland
LTG Sutherland, center, 1 September 1970
Nickname(s)Jock
Born(1918-02-08)February 8, 1918
Benton County, Arkansas
DiedMay 1, 1987 (1987-06) (aged 69)
Beaufort, South Carolina
Buried
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1941–1971
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands heldXXIV Corps
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal

Early life and education edit

Sutherland was born on 8 February 1918 in Benton County, Arkansas.

Military service edit

Post WWII edit

MG Sutherland served as commander of the US Army Test and Evaluation Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground from August 1963 to December 1965.[1]

Vietnam War edit

Sutherland served as commander of XXIV Corps from 18 June 1970 until 9 June 1971.[2][3] During this time he was involved in the planning and support of Operation Lam Son 719.[4][5][3]: 196  On 25 March 1971 Sutherland advised COMUSMACV General Creighton Abrams ". .. As you have stated before we can take [the South Vietnamese] . . . only so far; beyond that point they must go on their own. We have reached that point in Lam Son 719. Today I am not sure of how much further we can take them."[6]

Post Vietnam edit

Sutherland served as Chief of Staff United States European Command from 1971.[7]

He died on 1 May 1987 in Beaufort, South Carolina and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

References edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

  1. ^ Arsenal for the Brave; a History of the U.S. Army Material Command, 1962-1968. United States Army. 1969. p. 306.
  2. ^ Tucker, Spencer (2011). The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History, 2nd Edition. ABC-CLIO. p. 1694. ISBN 9781851099610.
  3. ^ a b Cosmas, Graham (1986). US Marines in Vietnam Vietnamization and Redeployment 1970-1971. History and Museums Division Headquarters United States Marine Corps. p. 69. ISBN 9781494287498.
  4. ^ Nolan, Keith (1986). Into Laos. Presidio Press. p. 30. ISBN 9780440200444.
  5. ^ "Debriefing report of General James W. Sutherland" (PDF). US Army. June 1971. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  6. ^ Hammond, William (1996). United States Army in Vietnam Public Affairs: The Military and the Media, 1968–1973. United States Army Center of Military History. p. 483. ISBN 0-16-048696-3.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ "LTG Sutherland gives command of XXIV Corps to LTG Dolvin" (PDF). Southern Cross Americal Division. 16 July 1971. Retrieved 31 October 2018.