Former Fort Stewart commander Lt. Gen. James Vaught died Sept. 20. According to an obituary in the Grand Strand Daily in Conway, S.C., Vaught was a South Carolina native. He was commander of the 24th Infantry Division from 1977-79, but previously served with the 24th ID during the Korean War, long before the 24th ID was reactivated at Fort Stewart in 1975.
The 24th ID was deactivated at Stewart in 1996, then the 3rd ID was reactivated here from Schweinfurt, Germany.
According to his obituary, the 86-year-old drowned while trying to secure a pontoon boat. Vaught’s 38-year military career included a combat tour in Korea and two tours in Vietnam.
He was a Ranger-qualified paratrooper, served with the 82d Airborne Division and later as commander of the XVIII Airborne Crops at Fort Bragg. He is credited with developing what is now the Joint Service Special Operation Command.