Minnesotan & Army General John Vessey Dies At 94

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A retired army general who became chairman of the joint chiefs of staff under President Ronald Reagan, has died.

General John Vessey first enlisted as a private in the Minnesota National Guard in 1939. He fought in World War II and Vitenam and was the nation's top military officer when he retired in his home state of Minnesota in 1985.

President George H.W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- the nation's highest civilian award.

Vessey's daughter says he was surrounded by family and died of natural causes.

He was 94 years old.