MAJOR GENERAL JAMES H. GARNER

Retired effective Jan 25, 2000

Major General James H. Garner was appointed the Adjutant General of Mississippi on January 15, 1992, and was reappointed to a second term in 1996. As Adjutant General, he serves as a member of the Governor's Cabinet and commander of the military department of Mississippi, which includes the Army National Guard, Air National Guard and the Mississippi State Guard. The Adjutant General is charged with the responsibility to organize, train and equip the more than 13,000 citizen soldiers and airmen of the Mississippi National Guard to perform its federal and state missions. His duties include administration and management of personnel, fiscal and legislative matters pertaining to the military department and maintain readiness of the force.

General Garner began his military career when he enlisted in the Mississippi National Guard in 1951. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1953, and served on active duty from October 1954 to August 1956, serving in Headquarters Company, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Prior to his appointment as Adjutant General, Major General Garner served as the Assistant Adjutant General for Operations, Training, and Readiness and Commanding General, STARC Troop Command until his retirement as a Brigadier General in 1987. Major General Garner also served as commander of the 114^th Area Support Group, commander of the 31^st Support Center (Rear Area Operations) and commander of the 2^nd Battalion, 20^th Special Forces for five years.

EDUCATION:

1957 University of Southern Mississippi - Master of Arts Degree
1954 University of Southern Mississippi - Bachelor of Science Degree

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Jul 51 - Jul 53, Enlisted, Headquarters, 138^th Transportation Battalion
2. Jul 53 - Sep 54, Assistant S-3, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 138^th Transportation Battalion
3. Sep 54 - Aug 56, Enlisted, Headquarters Company, XVIII Airborne Corps (Active Duty)
4. Sep 56 - Nov 56, Platoon Leader, 135^th Transportation Company (Light Truck)
5. Dec 56 - Jul 57, Platoon Leader, 197^th Transportation Company (Light Truck)
6. Aug 57 - Sep 57, Platoon Leader, 192^nd Transportation Company (Light Truck)Sep 57 - Apr 58, Platoon Leader, 135^th Transportation Company (Light Truck)
7. Apr 58 - Apr 59, Adjutant and S-1, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 138^th Transportation Battalion
8. May 59 - Apr 60, Operations Officer, 135^th Transportation Company (Amphibious Truck)
9. Apr 60 - Apr 63, Commander, 192^nd Transportation Company (Amphibious Truck)
10. May 63 - Sep 63, Maintenance Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 138^th Transportation Battalion
11. Sep 63 - Oct 63, Detachment Commander, Operational Detachment A-49, Company E, 20^th Special Forces Group
12. Oct 63 - Feb 68, Detachment Commander, Operational Detachment B-12, Company E, 20^th Special Forces Group
13. Feb 68 - Jul 68, Detachment Commander, Operational Detachment C-5, Company E, 20^th Special Forces Group
14. Aug 68 - Sep 72, Detachment Commander, Operational Detachment C-2, Company B, 20^th Special Forces Group
15. Sep 72 - Oct 73, Battalion Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 2^nd Battalion, 20^th Special Forces Group
16. Nov 73 - Jul 74, Intelligence Security Officer, 31^st Support Center (Rear Area Operations)
17. Jul 74 - Mar 80, Operations Officer, later Security, Plans Operations Officer, later Center Commander, 31^st Support Center (Rear Area Operations)
18. Mar 80 - Jul 80, Deputy Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 184^th Transportation Brigade
19. Jul 80 - Jul 83, Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 114^th Area Support Group
20. Jul 83 - Dec 87, Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters, State Area Command, Mississippi Army National Guard (Troop Command
Commander)
21. Jan 92 - Jun 97, Adjutant General, Mississippi National Guard
22. Jun 97 - Jan 00, Adjutant General, Mississippi National Guard

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Good Conduct Medal - Army
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 3 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with 1 Hourglass Device)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon
Master Parachutist Badge
Special Forces Tab

CIVILIAN EDUCATION:

Major General Garner was special assistant to the director of the Biloxi Veterans Administration Medical Center until his retirement to accept appointment as the Adjutant General of Mississippi.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

Major General Garner is active in the civilian community. He is a Rotarian and a member of the Biloxi Bay Chamber of Commerce. In 1996 he was honored by the Biloxi Bay Chamber of Commerce as a "Biloxian Made Good." He has been active for many years in the Mardis Gras Carnival on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Hew has served as King of the Mithras, a men's carnival organization and King of La Masque, a ladie's carnival organization.

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:

2LT ARNG 8 Jul 53
2LT ARNG 21 Oct 56
1LT ARNG 21 Jul 57
CPT ARNG 15 May 60
MAJ ARNG 20 May 64
LTC ARNG 21 May 68
COL ARNG 16 Apr 80
BG ARNG 29 Feb 84
MG (Line) ARNG 11 Mar 93