Jack N. Merritt


Jack Neil Merritt was a United States Army four-star general who served as U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee from 1985 to 1987.

Military career

Merritt was born in Lawton, Oklahoma and entered the Army as a private in 1952 at the height of the Korean War and over the next thirty-five years rose to 4-star rank. From battery command in Korea to the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery at Fort Hood, Texas, he commanded at every level in the Field Artillery. His final assignment was as United States Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee from 1985 to 1987.
Merritt was the Honor Graduate of his Officer Candidate School class in 1953. He later earned a Bachelor of General Education degree in military science from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Master of Science degree in business administration from George Washington University. Merritt was also top graduate of his Artillery Advance Course, Distinguished Graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and Distinguished Graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Moreover, his career touched the entire Army school system. In 1977 he served on the general officer study group that reviewed the West Point honor code and he commanded the Artillery Center and School, the Army War College and the Combined Arms Center including the Command and General Staff College.
He also served on the National Security Council staff and had additional assignments on Joint Staff and was the U.S. Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee.
His decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star and Legion of Merit.
After retirement, he served as president of the Association of the United States Army and chairman of the United States Field Artillery Association. He has also served on the board of directors of the Army and Air Force Mutual Aid Association, the Honorary Board of the National World War II Museum, and secretary to the board of directors of the Marshall Legacy Institute.

Personal

Merritt married Rosemary Ralston on 31 October 1953, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The couple had three sons, six grandchildren, and, as of 2019, three great-grandchildren.
Merritt died on 4 January 2018, at the age of 87 at his home in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on 18 May 2018 and his wife was buried beside him on 17 April 2019.