John Bahnsen

In 1890, Peter became Georgia's first state veterinarian and operated a state-of-the-art dairy farm in Americus, Georgia.

John C. "Doc" Bahnsen Jr. (November 8, 1934 – February 21, 2024) was a United States Army brigadier general and decorated veteran of the Vietnam War.

John Charles Bahnsen Jr. was born to John C. Bahnsen and Evelyn Williams in Albany, Georgia.

on November 8, 1934.

His nickname, "Doc", stems from his grandfather, Dr. Peter F. Bahnsen, who immigrated with his parents to the United States from Denmark.

Among the highlights of this assignment was a mission to support Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing for Operation Double Eagle, working out of Kỳ Hà south of Da Nang, for which he was awarded his first of five Silver Stars.

The family moved to Rochelle, Georgia, in 1941, where John Charles Bahnsen's father worked as the federal soil conservationist for Wilcox County.

Bahnsen attended Rochelle's public schools until tenth grade.

Later, he went to live with his grandfather and aunt in Americus, Georgia, because the high school curriculum in Americus offered more math and science courses than Rochelle's. After 18 months in Americus, he gained admission to Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama.

Bahnsen was then appointed to the United States Military Academy by United States Senator Walter F. George, a close political acquaintance of his grandfather Bahnsen.

Bahnsen began his studies at West Point in 1952.

He won his numerals as a pole vaulter on the plebe track and field team.

He also participated on intramural teams, including wrestling, lacrosse, swimming, football, and soccer.

As a cadet, Bahnsen met George S. Patton IV and Hank Emerson, who were then assigned to West Point as tactical officers, and they became his mentors.

Bahnsen was a mediocre student, but excelled in military science and physical education courses On June 5, 1956, he graduated with a commission as an Infantry Second Lieutenant, ranking 406th out of 480 in his class.

After graduation from the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, Lieutenant Bahnsen attended Airborne School.

He married his childhood sweetheart, Patricia Fitzgerald, prior to attending Fixed Wing Flight School at Camp Gary, Texas and Fort Rucker, Alabama.

They had four children: Jon Christian, Bradley Duncan, Leeanne, and James Fitzgerald.

Bahnsen's first troop assignment was in West Germany as an aviator in Artillery Flight, 3rd Aviation Company, 3rd Infantry Division.

Bahnsen's brother Peter (USMA, 1958) was in Vietnam at the same time, carrying out a variety of operations for the Special Forces.

Peter reportedly rode with Doc on at least one helicopter assault mission.

On October 4, 1965, Bahnsen reported for duty with the 145th Combat Aviation Battalion then stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, contiguous to Saigon, and was assigned to command the 118th Aviation Company's (Thunderbirds) gunship platoon (Bandits) at Bien Hoa Air Base.

In December 1966, Bahnsen reported for duty with the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development.

Assigned as a staff officer in the Army Aviation Directorate, his duties involved verifying the readiness of aviation and air cavalry units set to deploy to Vietnam.

During this assignment, he enrolled in graduate courses offered by George Washington University.

While there he transferred to the Armor branch, which led to command of B Company, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment.

He excelled in command, qualifying all 17 of his company's tank crews on their first run at the Tank Crew Qualification Course in Grafenwöhr, for which he received the Army Commendation Medal.

Bahnsen next attended the Rotary Wing Aviator Course at Fort Wolters, Texas, followed by the Armor Officer Advanced Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

He remained at the Armor School as an instructor of armored cavalry and air cavalry tactics before being assigned to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to attend the Command and General Staff College.

In April 1968, Bahnsen was part of the Army's response to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., spending a day patrolling Washington, D.C. during the post-assassination rioting.

Soon after returning from Operation Double Eagle, Bahnsen became operations officer for the 118th Aviation Company.

Bahnsen re-established his relationship with Patton while they were both assigned to The Pentagon, and when Patton rotated to Vietnam to take command of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, he arranged to have Bahnsen released from staff duties early in order to take command of the regiment's Air Cavalry Troop.

Shortly afterwards, he was assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Group at Long Binh and promoted to major.

While at the 12th Aviation Group Bahnsen created a "Top Gun" competition to improve helicopter weapons marksmanship by offering prizes and bragging rights for the best scores.

During this combat tour, Bahnsen had a relationship with Thach Thi Hung, "the Dragon Lady of Bien Hoa."

On his departure from Vietnam, she was pregnant.

Three months after he left Vietnam, Hung was killed in an automobile accident.

Her son, Minh, survived the accident and later made his way to the United States, where he met his father for the first time.

Minh later lived with Doc Bahnsen for about a year before returning to his home in California to pursue a career in the film industry.

Minh Bahnsen has since worked on several films as an electrician and grip, including National Treasure and Thor.