Veteran, World War II – Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit, Bronze Star
Dean of the Academic Board, United States Military Academy, West Point
Brigadier General John R. Jannarone was the 1936 class valedictorian of Nutley High School and finished number one in his class of 301 graduates at the United States Military Academy, West Point. These two feats presaged the illustrious accomplishments of General Jannarone in the military and in the academic field during his lifetime.
In World War II, General Jannarone commanded a Combat Engineer Battalion and later was promoted to Assistant Engineer of the Eighth Army in New Guinea, the Philippines and Japan. In 1947, he began his military academic career at West Point as a professor of physics, head of the Physics Department and subsequently to the highly responsible post of Dean of the Academic Board.
General Jannarone’s decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal awarded during his service in World War II.
In 1968, General William H. Blanchard, Air Force Chief of Staff, captured the essence of General Jannarone indicating that, “Johnny is known by all his mates as one of those rare individuals who possess the brain of a genius, the practicality of a farmer, and the personality ”
Years ago, Nutley named a street to honor Brigadier General John R. Jannarone.
Source: Nutley Hall of Fame, Panel of Judges