John C. Bahnsen, Jr., is a highly decorated combat veteran of the U.S. Army who served tours of duty in Vietnam in 1965 to 1966 and 1968 to 1969. A 1956 graduate of the Military Academy at West Point, Bahnsen became a cavalry officer and commanded both air and ground cavalry units in combat. He retired as a brigadier general and as one of the most highly decorated soldiers of the Vietnam War era. He retired in 1986 as a U.S. Army Brigadier General.