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Texas Military Department News

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FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE:

Texas Military Department Announces Death of Former Adjutant General

AUSTIN, Texas (August 22, 2017) – Maj. Gen. John F. Nichols, the Adjutant General of Texas, is deeply saddened to announce that former Texas Adjutant General, Retired Lt. Gen. Daniel James III passed away Aug. 1, 2017. The first African American Adjutant General for Texas, James served as the Texas Adjutant General from Nov. 1995 to June 2002. 

James earned his commission, in 1968, after completing the ROTC program, as a distinguished graduate, at the University of Arizona where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. A command pilot with approximately 4,000 flying hours in the T-39 Sabreliner, T-38 Talon, T-37 Tweet, O-1E Bird Dog, F-5E Fighter, F-4 Phantom and F-16 Fighting Falcon, James completed two active-duty tours in Southwest Asia, logging more than 500 combat hours. 

“Lt. Gen. Daniel James III’s service to our nation and our state will never be forgotten,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “As a combat veteran, General James put his life on the line so that we could enjoy the freedoms we enjoy today. Cecilia and I extend our deepest condolences to the James family in their time of grief, and we ask that all Texans join us in keeping them in their thoughts and prayers.”

Under James’ leadership, the Texas National Guard provided emergency response and civil support to the community of Jarrell, following the historic and devastating F-5 tornado in May 1997. Another historic milestone for the Texas National Guard was the selection, 1998, of the 49th Armored Division headquarters element to command and control a multi-national peacekeeping mission in Bosnia, starting in 2000. 

“The legacy that Lt. Gen. James leaves behind will not soon be forgotten. His ability to begin the transition of the Texas National Guard from a reserve force to that of an operational force clearly allowed Texas to distinguish itself as a ready and relevant force,” said Nichols. “His induction into the Texas Military Forces Hall of Honor in 2007 is just one way we will honor this legacy.”

Following his time as the Adjutant General of Texas, he became the first African-American director of the Air National Guard, serving in that position from 2002 until his retirement in 2006.
 
A memorial service for James’ is to be held Aug. 23, 2017 in Washington, D.C. with interment to follow at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. Therefore, pursuant to Chapter 3100 of the Texas Government Code and 4 U.S.C. § 7, the lowering of all Texas and United States flags on Texas Military Department armories and installations throughout the state will take place on Aug. 23, 2017.
 

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The mission of the Texas Military Department (TMD) is to provide the Governor and the President with ready and trained forces in support of the citizens of Texas and State and Federal civil/military authorities at home and abroad.

The Texas Military Department is commanded by the Adjutant General of Texas, the state's senior military official appointed by the governor, and is comprised of the Texas Military Department (formerly the Adjutant General's Department), the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG), the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG), the Texas State Guard (TXSG) and the Domestic Operations Command (DOMOPS).

For more information about the Texas Military Department visit our Website at https://tmd.texas.gov.