Berton E. Spivy, Jr.

Berton Everett Spivy Jr. (22 December 1911 – 26 November 1997) was a United States Army four-star general who served as United States Military Representative, NATO Military Committee in Brussels, Belgium, from 1968 to 1971.

Military career Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on 22 December 1911, to Berton Everett Sr. and Maude Bramlette Spivy, who were from Bonham, Texas. Berton Everett Spivy Jr. began his military career at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1934, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of Artillery. He attended the Battery Officers’ and Field Officers’ Courses and instructed at the United States Army Field Artillery School located at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He also attended the British Land/Air Warfare School and the National War College.

Spivy held a variety of staff and command positions while in the United States, Europe, and Asia. During World War II, he served as the Chief of the Field Artillery Branch, G-1, Army Ground Forces and later deployed to Southern France where he joined the Seventh United States Army and served as the Plans and Operations Officer of the Seventh Army Artillery Section for the remainder of the war.

In April 1965, Spivy was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and served as the Director for Plans and Policy (J-5) in the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; subsequently in April 1967, he was appointed Director of the Joint Staff. Promoted to the rank of General in July 1968, General Spivy served as the U.S. representative to the NATO Military Committee until his retirement in July 1971 He is buried in Andice Cemetery in Williamson County, Texas.