Colonel John Aubrey Seymour, Jr. (retd)

Colonel John Aubrey Seymour Jr. (Ret.), aged 80, passed away at home on January 1st, 2024. John was a decorated veteran who served two tours in Vietnam and spent over 30 years in the Army.

John Aubrey Seymour, Jr. was born on August 14, 1943 in Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army in April 1962 and upon completion of airborne training, served in the 3rd Battalion, 508th Airborne Infantry and 8th Special Forces Group in the Panama Canal Zone.  In October 1965, John commissioned as a Second Lieutenant from Infantry Officer Candidacy School.  His initial assignments were as Executive Officer and Commander of Special Forces Operational Detachments at Fort Bragg and in the Republic of Vietnam.  He commanded an Infantry Basic Training Company at Fort Bragg in 1967 and then returned to Vietnam in 1968 where he served as operations officer for Command Control Detachment North, 5th Special Forces Group. In 1969 he returned to Fort Bragg where he served as Chief, Field Training Exercise Branch, G3, HQ U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Center for Military Assistance. In 1973, COL Seymour was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and served as the Combat Support Company Commander and Battalion Operations Officer, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry. Following assignments at HQ U. S. Army Forces Command as the Unconventional Warfare Staff Officer, and in the Inspector General's office at HQ Military District of Washington, COL Seymour was assigned to HQ Department of the Army, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations in September 1982 as Chief, Unconventional Warfare Branch. In 1985 he was assigned to HQ U.S. Army Western Command in Hawaii where he served initially as Chief, Special Operations Division until September 1986 when he assumed command of the Western Command Special Operations Support Detachment.       In February 1988 he was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky; initially as the Commander, Support Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group until October 1988 when he was assigned as the Fort Campbell Garrison Commander. During deployment of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) to Saudi Arabia in September 1990 he assumed duties as the Commander, Fort Campbell. Upon the Division's return in April 1991 he reassumed duties as the Garrison Commander. In 1992, COL Seymour returned to Hawaii and, on 12 August, assumed command of the 4th Special Operations Support Command (Theater Army) (Airborne).

His medals and honors included the Air Assault Badge, Master Parachutist Wings, Combat Infantry Badge, the Special Forces Tab, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (3), Bronze Star (3), Meritorious Service Medal (2), Army Commendation Medal (2), Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Valorous Unit Award, Presidential Unit Citation, Civil Action Unit Award, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Vietnam Staff Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Palm, and Vietnam Campaign Medal.

When he left the military, he chose to continue to serve the people by pursuing a career in public service. He served as City Manager for Anniston, Alabama from 1996 - 1999, and City Administrator of Opelika, Alabama from October 1999 - June 2002. John also served as Assistant Director for Property Management of the Center for Domestic Preparedness, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, Anniston, AL from June 2002 - January 2004 and returned to Anniston to serve as City Manager again from January 2004 - April 2005.

During his time in the military and public service, John earned his BA in Business Administration from Campbell University and a Master of Arts in Management from Central Michigan University.

John was a kind and generous person who easily made friends and impacted many lives. He loved Thai food and had learned how to cook many dishes from his time serving in Thailand, including a very tasty tom kha gai. He enjoyed nature and history, and traveled all over the world. He especially loved old westerns and John Wayne movies, which he enjoyed watching with his dog Nemo.

John was preceded in death by his parents John Aubrey Seymour, Sr. and Elizabeth Cherry Seymour. He is survived by his brother Richard F. Seymour and sister-in-law Delores, former spouse Lisa Seymour, niece Darlene Seymour Chesson, nephew Richard F. Seymour Jr., stepson James Nicholas Davis and wife Chelsie York, stepson Charles Zachary Davis and wife Rachel Davis, and step grandson Everett Davis.

He will be dearly missed and forever appreciated for teaching us the value of learning about the world and seeking experiences in life. We thank him for all the journeys he would take us on that he affectionately named “mandatory fun.” To quote John Wayne in True Grit: “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway”[1] . John embodied this.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Alabama Public Television, which was one of the many charities John regularly supported.

John will be buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery on a date to be announced.