General James Lindsay, former 82nd Airborne Corps Commander, was awarded the Hometown Hero award Saturday at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville. He was the driving force behind building the museum.
The award will be presented annually during Fayetteville’s Veterans Day celebration to honor a local citizen that contributed to the nurture and development of the relationship between the city and the military. General James J. Lindsay is the first recipient of the Hometown Hero award.
At the ceremony, General Lindsay spoke of plans to add more space to honor those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Plans are also underway to move World War 2 barracks, a mess hall and even a chapel from Fort Bragg to a site next to the NC Veterans Park.
General Lindsay was born in 1932 in Portage, Wisconsin. He enlisted in the Army in 1952 and graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School in May 1953 as a Second Lieutenant. His first assignment was as a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division. This began a long association with the Division, Fort Bragg and the Fayetteville Community, during which time he served in nine different assignments at every level from platoon to division command and then subsequently commanding the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg.
In 1990, General Lindsay founded the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation. Over the course of the next ten years he worked tirelessly building a team, developing a design, and raising money to make the dream of a world class museum honoring the US Army’s Airborne and Special Operations Soldiers a reality. As a direct result of his efforts, the Museum opened in August 2000, without a doubt changing the complexion of Downtown Fayetteville forever, and became the catalyst for revitalization and development.
“I would like to congratulate General James J. Lindsay for receiving the Hometown Heroes Award; it’s only fitting because he has truly been a hero to us in Fayetteville, not only for his decorated military service but for his tireless efforts in bringing the Airborne & Special Operations Museum to downtown,” Mayor Mitch Colvin said. “The City of Fayetteville is forever grateful and indebted to General Lindsay for his significant contributions to our community.”
Photo of General James Lindsay accepting the Hometown Hero award by Sandhills Sentinel reporter, John Patota.
