Trooper Down Major General (ret.) John R. Landry October 15, 1938 – June 13, 2015 To the Blackhorse family: Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Major General Landry, who passed away this past weekend. Many of you had the pleasure to meet him at Blackhorse functions in the past or to serve with him on active duty. At the 2014 Blackhorse Reunion in Colorado Springs, John was inducted into our Honorary Rolls. He served as B Troop commander in Vietnam, and he had an illustrious military and post-military career. Our deepest sympathies go to his wife, Marge, and sons Sean and Scott along with their families. John R. Landry passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at Inova Fairfax Hospital after a short but courageous battle with cancer. John was surrounded by his loving family and is survived by Margaret Hans, his wife of over 52 years; his son Sean and daughter-in-law Sumataya; his son Scott and daughter-in-law Jacki; and his beautiful grandchildren Sara, Kylie, and Samantha. He also leaves behind his sister Diane Gill, his brother Louis Landry, and his sister Maria Wellisch.
He was born on October 15, 1938 in Miami, Florida to John and Genevieve Landry. He graduated from Miami High School in 1956 and attended the University of Miami. In 1958, he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1962. John retired from the United States Army as a Major General after a distinguished career of 32 years.
His service began in Bindlach, Germany where he commanded A Troop, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. In 1966, he deployed to Vietnam with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, where he was awarded the Bronze and Silver Stars, and the Presidential and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citations while commanding B Troop. He attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University prior to teaching at West Point in the Social Sciences Department. From 1974 to 1979, he served two tours in Amberg, Germany with 3rd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, first as the squadron executive officer and – following an assignment as speechwriter to SACEUR at SHAPE, Belgium – as the squadron commander. He commanded the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado in 1984, and he later served as the Assistant Division Commander (Support) with the 8th Infantry Division at Mainz, Germany. In 1989, he served in Germany as Chief of Staff, VII Corps, a position he held during Operation Desert Storm. Shortly before retiring in 1993, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Guard/Reserve Affairs. Following his career in the Army, he was appointed as a National Intelligence Officer (NIO), where he supported the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) as principal advisor on issues concerning military developments worldwide.
He will be remembered for his love of life; his commitment to God, his family and many close friends; and for his never-ending stories of his granddaughters, whom he loved and spoiled as often as possible. He will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be on Sunday, June 21st, 3-8 pm, at Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, 9902 Braddock Road, Fairfax, Virginia (phone: 703-425-9702). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Church of the Nativity, 6400 Nativity Lane, Burke, Virginia on Monday, June 22nd, 10 am. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a date and time to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Jude’s Hospital for Children (stjude.org) or the Disabled American Veterans (www.DAV.org).
For further information, please visit the following site: opens in a new windowhttp://www.fairfaxmemorialfuneralhome.com/obituary/Maj.-Gen.-John-Ryan-Landry-USA-Ret./Fairfax-Station-VA/1518048
