John Benedict Desmond

CENTER HARBOR — Brigadier General (Retired) John B. Desmond, 86, of Center Harbor, NH died on January 14, 2009. He was born on January 19, 1922 in Boston, MA, the fifth of seven children of Jerome and Josephine [Bagley] Desmond. Following his graduation from Jamaica Plain High School in 1939, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in June, 1941. He graduated June 6, 1944, the “D-Day Class.” He was assigned to the 69th Division following the Field Artillery Basic Course at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He then sailed to the ETO in December 1944 and served as an artillery forward observer and battery assistant executive officer during the last two campaigns of WW II. John stayed in the theater until 1947 on various staffs and the

constabulary. On returning to the United States in 1947, he was assigned to staff and faculty at West Point with station at Harvard University. He married Betty Dalton of Attleboro, MA in December, 1948. John spent the next five years between Harvard and the West Point Department of Social Sciences getting an MA from Harvard and much satisfaction from four years teaching cadets. Following time in Korea, John was stationed

in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan. Various schools, and staff and command assignments followed, American and British Staff Colleges, Air War College, G 3, Army Staff and J 3, Battalion Group and Brigade commands in Nike Hercules Air Defense units. He retired in 1974 after serving as J 3 in Southern Command, Panama Canal Zone.

Decorations include two Campaign Ribbons for WW II, Army Commendation medals, the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Service Medal.

He was predeceased by his wife, Betty, in November, 1988.

John’s survivors include Colleen Skinner and her husband, Moffett, of Meredith, NH; Meg Desmond of St. Paul; MN, John Desmond, Jr. and his wife, Melodie, of Boxford, MA; Kevin Desmond of Center Harbor, NH; and five grandchildren: Christopher Skinner of Fayetteville, AR; Kyle Skinner of Olathe, KS; and Erika, John III, and Joshua Desmond of Boxford, MA.

After 30 years of traveling as a military officer, John truly loved living in his home on Squam Lake and enjoyed golfing, fishing, gardening and the NYT crossword puzzles.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Very Rev. Dennis J. Audet, V.F., pastor, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Meredith, NH on Saturday, January 24 at 11 AM.

A luncheon reception will follow. Burial will be at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY at 10 AM on Monday, January 26.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the St. Charles Building Fund, PO Box 237, Meredith, NH 03253 or the Golden View Health Care Center Activity Fund, 19 NH Rt. 104, Meredith, NH 03253. The Mayhew Funeral Home, in Meredith and Plymouth, is in charge of the arrangements. www.mayhewfuneralhomes.com