Photo: U.S. Army — Public domainSource
Maxwell R. Thurman
- February 18, 1931
- December 1, 1995
- 64 years
- leukemia
About Maxwell R. Thurman
Maxwell R. Thurman, 64, American Army general, leukemia.
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Full Biography
|Maxwell Reid Thurman (18 February 1931 – 1 December 1995) was a United States Army general, who served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army and commander of United States Army Training and Doctrine Command.
Early life and education
Thurman attended North Carolina State University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering (ceramics). While in college he was a member of the Professional Engineering Fraternity Theta Tau.
Military career
Thurman was commissioned a second lieutenant of Ordnance from NCSU's ROTC program in 1953 and branch transferred to Field Artillery. His first assignment was with the 11th Airborne Division, and in 1958 his Honest John Rocket platoon was deployed to Lebanon.
From 1961 to 1963 Thurman served in South Vietnam as an intelligence officer for South Vietnam's I Corps. Following his service in Vietnam, Thurman became one of the few non-Academy graduates ever assigned as a company tactical officer at the United States Military Academy. In 1966 he attended the Command and General Staff College, then returned to South Vietnam in 1967, where he assumed command of the 2d Howitzer Battalion, 35th Field Artillery Regiment in 1968.
Later assignments
After completing the United States Army War College in 1970, Thurman held numerous troop and staff assignments before assuming command of United States Army Recruiting Command in 1979, where he initiated the highly successful "BE ALL YOU CAN BE" recruiting campaign. From 1981 to 1983 he was Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, Personnel (DCSPER) and from 1983 to 1987 he was the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.
In 1989 Thurman applied for retirement while serving as Commanding General, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. Instead, he was handpicked by President George H. W. Bush to be Commander-in-Chief, United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). In this position, he planned and executed Operation Just Cause, the 1989 invasion of Panama.
Later life and death
Thurman was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia while still commander in chief of USSOUTHCOM, shortly after Operation Just Cause. He retired in 1991 after more than thirty-seven years of service, and died in 1995 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, aged 64. A funeral service was held on December 7, 1995, at the Fort Myer, Virginia, chapel, followed by interment at Arlington National Cemetery (Section 30, Grave 416-A-LH).
Thurman, a lifelong bachelor, was survived by his brother, the late army Lieutenant General John R. Thurman III.
Honors
Thurman's awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device. In August 2010 Thurman was posthumously inducted into the Theta Tau Alumni Hall of Fame for outstanding contribution to his profession.
Legacy
An award is given every year by the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (MRMC) in honor of General Thurman. The award is generally presented at the annual meeting of the American Telemedicine Association.
Awards and decorations
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_R._Thurman
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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- November 1, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Maxwell R. Thurman's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was the birth date of Maxwell Reid Thurman?
- A.1 December 1995
- B.1 February 1931
- C.18 March 1931
- D.18 February 1931correct
Maxwell Reid Thurman was born on 18 February 1931.
Source: biographical header
2.At which university did Maxwell Reid Thurman graduate with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering?
- A.United States Army War College
- B.North Carolina State Universitycorrect
- C.United States Military Academy
- D.Virginia Military Institute
Maxwell Reid Thurman attended North Carolina State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering.
Source: early life and education
3.To which branch of the Army did Maxwell Reid Thurman transfer after being commissioned in 1953?
- A.Armor
- B.Infantry
- C.Ordnance
- D.Field Artillerycorrect
Maxwell Reid Thurman was commissioned in Ordnance but branch transferred to Field Artillery.
Source: military career
4.During his service in South Vietnam between 1961 and 1963, what role did Maxwell Reid Thurman hold?
- A.Intelligence officercorrect
- B.Company tactical officer
- C.Artillery battery commander
- D.Division commander
From 1961 to 1963, Maxwell Reid Thurman served as an intelligence officer for South Vietnam's I Corps.
Source: military career
5.What successful recruiting campaign did Maxwell Reid Thurman initiate in 1979?
- A.Army of One
- B.The Few, The Proud
- C.Be All You Can Becorrect
- D.Aim High
In 1979, Maxwell Reid Thurman initiated the successful 'BE ALL YOU CAN BE' recruiting campaign while commanding the U.S. Army Recruiting Command.
Source: later assignments
6.Which U.S. President handpicked Maxwell Reid Thurman to serve as Commander-in-Chief of USSOUTHCOM?
- A.Bill Clinton
- B.George H. W. Bushcorrect
- C.Ronald Reagan
- D.Jimmy Carter
President George H. W. Bush handpicked Maxwell Reid Thurman to lead USSOUTHCOM in 1989.
Source: later assignments
7.What military operation did Maxwell Reid Thurman plan and execute in 1989?
- A.Operation Desert Storm
- B.Operation Urgent Fury
- C.Operation Just Causecorrect
- D.Operation Restore Hope
As Commander-in-Chief of USSOUTHCOM, Maxwell Reid Thurman planned and executed the 1989 invasion of Panama known as Operation Just Cause.
Source: later assignments
8.What medical condition was Maxwell Reid Thurman diagnosed with shortly after Operation Just Cause?
- A.Acute myelogenous leukemiacorrect
- B.Chronic fatigue syndrome
- C.Heart disease
- D.Lung cancer
Maxwell Reid Thurman was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia while serving as commander in chief of USSOUTHCOM.
Source: later life and death
9.At what medical facility did Maxwell Reid Thurman die in 1995?
- A.Bethesda Naval Hospital
- B.Arlington National Hospital
- C.Walter Reed Army Medical Centercorrect
- D.Fort Myer Infirmary
Maxwell Reid Thurman died in 1995 at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.
Source: later life and death
10.Where is Maxwell Reid Thurman interred?
- A.Fort Myer Chapel
- B.Arlington National Cemeterycorrect
- C.North Carolina State University Memorial
- D.West Point Cemetery
Maxwell Reid Thurman was interred at Arlington National Cemetery following his funeral service.
Source: later life and death
11.Which professional engineering fraternity was Maxwell Reid Thurman a member of while in college?
- A.Theta Taucorrect
- B.Sigma Phi Delta
- C.Triangle
- D.Tau Beta Pi
While at North Carolina State University, Maxwell Reid Thurman was a member of the Professional Engineering Fraternity Theta Tau.
Source: early life and education
12.Which unit did Maxwell Reid Thurman command in South Vietnam in 1968?
- A.5th Special Forces Group
- B.1st Cavalry Division
- C.11th Airborne Division
- D.2d Howitzer Battalion, 35th Field Artillery Regimentcorrect
In 1968, Maxwell Reid Thurman assumed command of the 2d Howitzer Battalion, 35th Field Artillery Regiment in South Vietnam.
Source: military career
13.Maxwell Reid Thurman held which position from 1983 to 1987?
- A.Commanding General of TRADOC
- B.Commander of USSOUTHCOM
- C.Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, Personnel
- D.Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Armycorrect
From 1983 to 1987, Maxwell Reid Thurman served as the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.
Source: later assignments
14.What is the specific burial location of Maxwell Reid Thurman within Arlington National Cemetery?
- A.Section 5, Grave 112
- B.Section 30, Grave 416-A-LHcorrect
- C.Section 60, Grave 10
- D.Section 10, Grave 200
Maxwell Reid Thurman is interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 30, Grave 416-A-LH.
Source: later life and death
15.In what year was Maxwell Reid Thurman posthumously inducted into the Theta Tau Alumni Hall of Fame?
- A.2010correct
- B.2005
- C.1996
- D.2015
Maxwell Reid Thurman was posthumously inducted into the Theta Tau Alumni Hall of Fame in August 2010.
Source: honors
16.At which annual meeting is the award given by the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command in honor of Maxwell Reid Thurman generally presented?
- A.American Telemedicine Associationcorrect
- B.Association of the United States Army
- C.Military Health System Research Symposium
- D.American Medical Association
The award in honor of General Thurman is generally presented at the annual meeting of the American Telemedicine Association.
Source: legacy
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