Major General John A. Hemphill, U.S. Army (Retired), passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on May 21, 2021 at his home in Steilacoom, Washington, surrounded by his family. General Hemphill led an extraordinary life, with an exemplary career in the United States Army.
A native of Boise, Idaho, General Hemphill was the eldest of two children to Clarence Hemphill, a hotel manager, and Orpha Hemphill, a homemaker. He was an excellent multi-sport high school athlete, being named to the all-state defensive football team and winning the division 440-yard track championship. After participating in ROTC in high school and the first semester of college, he received a commission to the United States Military Academy at West Point. There he excelled as an avid athlete and cadet. He graduated and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1951, and a year later married Margaret “Peggy” Scollin of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
As a paratrooper and Ranger-trained infantryman, General Hemphill served in the Korean and Vietnam wars as a leader of combat units. He held many staff officer and command positions throughout his career, including as a rifle company platoon leader and commander during the Korean War and as an airborne infantry battalion, infantry brigade, and deputy airborne brigade commander in Vietnam. In peacetime, he had additional troop command assignments, serving as a staff officer at battalion, division, corps, unified command and Army Staff levels, commanding a scientific testing organization, teaching at the Army’s Infantry School, and working with the Army’s Reserve Components. He was a graduate of the Air Force Command and Staff College and the Army War College. His final post was the Director of Operations (J-3) of the U.S. Readiness Command.
General Hemphill was highly decorated for his service. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross (the US Army's second highest military decoration for extraordinary heroism in combat), three awards of the Purple Heart, both the Department of Defense and the Army Distinguished Service Medals, two awards of the Silver Star, the Defense Superior Medal, and four awards of the Legion of Merit. Additional United States decorations include two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Star Medals with Valor, twenty Air Medals, the Army Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, the Master Parachute Badge, the Ranger Tab, and numerous service medals. Over the course of his career he also received six foreign decorations, including the Republic of Korea’s Chungmu Distinguished Military Service Medal with Silver Star. In 2010, General and Mrs. Hemphill traveled to Korea as guests of honor to participate in the commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Korean War.
Following his retirement in 1985, General Hemphill worked as a defense industry consultant and organized regional national security symposiums before turning his focus to community volunteering. He took on regional leadership roles in the Association of the United States Army, receiving the AUSA’s General Creighton W. Abrams Medal in 2008 for exceptional service to the Army. He was frequently honored for his local contributions, where notably he helped to establish the Steilacoom Kiwanis Club, raise school funding, expand the Steilacoom fireworks display, and support the purchase of the Main Street Town Clock.
General Hemphill led efforts to celebrate the history of the region. He served as co-author and editor for the book West Pointers and Early Washington and as primary fundraiser for the Captain Meriwether Lewis Memorial Park, located at the main entrance to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which honors the contributions of both the enlisted soldiers and the officers who undertook the epic expedition. He commissioned bronze statues of First Sergeant John Ordway as well as Captain Lewis and his valiant dog, Seaman. A believer in opportunity through education, General Hemphill also spearheaded the creation of a statue commemorating pioneer teacher Chloe Clark, now on display at the school that bears her name in Dupont. Recognizing our future lies in the hands of our youth, General Hemphill volunteered countless hours to education and awards, as well as fundraising, for the soldiers and their families of Joint Base Lewis McChord.
Throughout his life, General Hemphill lived his values of service to country and others with an unrelenting vigor, inspiring many in his family to pursue public service. He is survived by his beloved wife, Peggy, several cousins, five daughters, three sons-in-law, twelve grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Dedicated to his family and friends, General Hemphill was also a lover of animals, heartfelt comedies, fishing, and the Seattle Seahawks. His many family and friends will forever cherish and find inspiration in memories of his love and dedication until they can join him and find out what initiatives he is championing in heaven.
In lieu of flowers, Peggy and family request that donations be made to the West Point Association of Graduates - Long Gray Line Fund (https://www.westpointaog.org/giveonline) or the National Veterans Memorial and Museum (https://www.nationalvmm.org/get-involved/donate/).
A memorial service will be held at the Lewis North Chapel on Monday, June 7, 1 pm. He will be interred at West Point on August 23, 2021.
