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MAJ Mark E Cooper
to remember
Mackmull, Jack Vincent (Bobo), LTG.
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Contact Info
Home Town Dayton
Date of Passing Apr 03, 2011
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Few Army Aviators have had the variety of important aviation assignments throughout a career as Lieutenant General Jack V. Mackmull. While Chief of the AWO Branch during the early days of the Vietnam War, he managed the greatest expansion in the history of the Branch. Recognizing that Aviation Warrant Officers had no definite career program, he personally wrote the forerunner of today's Aviation Warrant Officer career program.
He had three combat aviation tours in Vietnam, first commanding the 13th CAB in 1964, then one of only three aviation battalions in USARV. On his second tour, he commanded the 164th CAG that included all aviation in the Mekong Delta and effectively integrated Air Cavalry, airmobile, and attack helicopters and aviation logistics in all combat operations.
In 1972, he returned to USARV for a third tour to command the 1st Aviation Brigade that encompassed all Army Aviation in Vietnam. He effectively managed the draw-down of all aviation units and equipment without incident--a retrograde movement of some 15,000 men and more than 1,000 aircraft--without stopping aviation combat operations.
As Deputy Commanding General of AVSCOM, he participated in the source selection of the Black Hawk and Apache, and designed and implemented "Systems Management" which is used today. As the Commanding General of the JFK Special Warfare Center he established the original requirement for Aviation and Tiltrotor Support of Special Operations Forces, and helped to organize the Delta Force and Special Operations Aviation.
As Assistant Division Commander, and later as Commanding General of the 101st Air Assault Division, Lieutenant General Mackmull designed and implemented the Combat Aviation Management System, several FM's on "Air Assault Operations" and preselected aviation battle drills. While at Fort Campbell, he organized Task Force 160, a major innovation.
In 1982, Lieutenant General Mackmull chaired the Tactical Employment Committee at the Army Aviation Review. This committee's actions led to the establishment of the Army Aviation Branch and recognition of the requirement for helicopter air-to-air combat. He completed his career as Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps.
This highly decorated and respected Combat Infantryman, Special Forces Officer, and Master Parachutist has been called "Mr. Aviation" by the Chief of Staff and FORSCOM and TRADOC Commanders and considered his greatest award to be Master Army Aviator.
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On 25 October 1983, U.S. Forces were ordered to Grenada to rescue Americans. Over 100 Army women participated. Grenada was the first American armed conflict where women were allowed to fly helicopters. Women also served as MP, intelligence officers, mechanics and logistics specialists, and one even served as the crew chief on a Blackhawk medical evacuation helicopter.
Four women military police officers were in Grenada just after the U.S. Invasion, but were promptly sent back to their base at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, when the 82d Airborne Division Commander became aware of the their presence. They were returned a day-and-a-half later by the Commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps, LTG Jack Mackmull, an avid supporter of women troops. The first combat support unit with women soldiers arrived five days after the 25 October assault.
Experience in Grenada led to study in all of the services concerning risks that new roles posed for women. In 1988, the Secretary of Defense issued the Standard Risk Rule that required evaluation of the chances of direct exposure to hostile fire or capture when deciding when an assignment should be open to women.
Vietnam War/Tet 69 Counteroffensive Campaign
From Month/Year
February / 1969
To Month/Year
June / 1969
Description This campaign was from 23 February to 8 June 1969. From Tet 1969 through the month of June, the enemy again tried to sustain an offensive. His inability to do so can be largely attributed to aggressive allied ground operations. Between 23 February and 8 June 1969, a total of 70 significant named ground operations were terminated resulting in heavy enemy loss of life and materiel. The main operations concluded during this period were:
(1). The 3d Marine Division's Operation KENTUCKY aimed at preventing enemy infiltration through the Demilitarized Zone in central Quang Tri Province. Throughout the early part of January 1969, Viet Cong/North Vietnamese Army forces continued to avoid major contacts with Free World Forces. Their continual movement to avoid friendly forces or to search for food and supplies contributed to a decrease in the enemy-initiated ground attacks and attacks-by-fire in Quang Tri Province.
(2). Operation NEVADA EAGLE, initiated on 17 May 1968 in Thua Thien Province, continued in 1969 as the U.S. 101st Airborne Division continued to defeat enemy personnel, and capture rice caches, material, and installations within its large area of operations, where it undertook offensive sweeps along Route 547 and around Song Bo.
(3). Two battalions of the 4th Marine Regiment were engaged in Operation SCOTLAND II. Initiated on 15 April 1968, this multi-battalion search and clear operation was centered in and around Khe Sanh.
(4). The IV Corps Tactical Zone Dry Weather Campaign began on 1 December 1968 in support of the overall mission to prevent Viet Cong units from interfering with pacification efforts. This operation, "Speedy Express," interdicted lines of enemy communication and denied him the use of base areas. In 1969 the 1st Brigade, 9th U.S. Infantry Division continued the operation in Dinh Tuong Province, using its highly successful night ambush tactics while the 2d Brigade continued its mission with the Mobile Riverine Force. Although engagements in Operation SPEEDY EXPRESS were typically small, the 9th Infantry Division fought several sizeable engagements with impressive results.
On 23 February U.S. Navy units and installations at Da Nang, Tan An, Ben Luc, Go Dan Ha, and Tra Cu came under numerous and widespread attacks associated with a new enemy offensive, but since many units in these areas were poised to meet these attacks they caused only minimal damage. April saw the heaviest cumulative enemy activity in the barrier interdiction camapign to date.
