James Maurice Gavin, born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 22, 1907, raised in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, and buried at West Point, New York, after his death in Baltimore, Maryland, on February 23, 1990, was held in high esteem by those who served with him in peace and war and helped write an important chapter in world freedom during the 20th century. He believed the place for the general in battle was where he could see the battle and smell it, because by his example he could instill confidence in troops and draw from them a desire to perform better, and that there was no substitute for the general being seen. His career began with enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1924, followed by entry into the U.S. Military Academy in 1925, and service with the 25th Infantry at Camp Harry S. Jones, Arizona, in 1929, the 38th Infantry at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in 1933, the 57th Infantry at Fort McKinley in the Philippines in 1936, and the 7th Infantry at Vancouver Barracks, Washington, in 1938. He became an instructor of tactics at the U.S. Military Academy in 1940, attended Paratroop School in 1941, served as operations officer of Airborne Command in 1941, commanded the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment in 1942, became airborne advisor to the Supreme Commander in England in 1943, served as assistant division commander of the 82nd Airborne Division in 1944, commanded the 82nd Airborne Division from 1944 to 1948, became chief of staff of the 5th U.S. Army in Chicago in 1949, served as chief of military standardization and weapon systems from 1949 to 1951, chief of staff of Allied Forces South Europe in 1952, commanding general of VII Corps in Germany in 1952, assistant chief of staff G-3 of the Department of the Army in 1954, chief of research and development of the Department of the Army in 1955, and retired in 1958 after 34 years of Army service. After retirement he served as executive vice president and then president of Arthur D. Little, Inc. in 1958, U.S. ambassador to France from 1961 to 1962, president and chief executive officer of Arthur D. Little, Inc. from 1962 to 1964, and chairman of the board of Arthur D. Little, Inc. from 1964 to 1977. His decorations included the Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendent, Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal, European Campaign Medal with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Star, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation with German Clasp, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge with 4 Stars for 4 combat jumps, Presidential Unit Citation, and major honors from Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Morocco, and Russia.