Former Gen. John Shalikashvili (1936-2011), who rose through the ranks from being a draftee to serving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, passed away at the age of 75 at Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA (south of Tacoma), according to CNN.
Shalikashvili was born in Warsaw, Poland of Georgian parents, who had to flee for their lives after the Warsaw Uprising. They moved to Peoria, IL, John learned to speak English from watching John Wayne movies, and was drafted in the Army in 1958. After a distinguished military career, he retired in 1997.
The general had suffered a stroke previously, in 2004. More recently, he was in the news for his support of a repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
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