Chester Victor Clifton, Jr.

Chester Victor Clifton Jr. (September 24, 1913 – December 23, 1991) was a major general in the United States Army and an aide to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Biography

Clifton was born in Edmonton, Alberta, to American parents. They moved back to the United States, settling in Puyallup, Washington. He graduated from high school in 1930 and worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer as a cub reporter for two years while attending the University of Washington.

Career Clifton entered the United States Military Academy in July 1932 and graduated with a B.S. degree in June 1936. During World War II he served in the Field Artillery in Italy, France and Germany, earning the Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star Medal, the French Croix de Guerre and the Italian Cross of Valor. Following the war Clifton was assigned to Army Headquarters to work on public relations and later became an assistant to Omar Bradley. In 1954, he graduated from the National War College. In 1956, he became Chief of Information of the Army. He retained this position in the Johnson administration until his retirement from the Army in 1965. Clifton was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his accomplishments as a general officer from March 1957 to July 1965.

Awards Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal Croix de Guerre (France) War Cross of Military Valor (Italy)