Maj Gen Jeffrey Bannister

Jeffrey L. Bannister, 57

Major General – US Army

Born April 7, 1961

Died Sunday, May 27, 2018, of natural causes.

Major General Jeffrey L. Bannister, 57, died of natural causes in Columbia, SC on May 27th. Major General Bannister was born in Coalinga, Cali., to Betty (Johnson) of Cleburne County, Ala., and L.T. Bannister of Rome, Georgia.  He was preceded in death by his grandparents and parents.

He is survived by his wife LTC (Ret) Trese (LaCamera), and their daughter, Lindsey. Five brothers, Jerry, Donald and Michael from Rome, Ga., SGM Ronald (Ret) from Sanford, N.C., and Roger from Jackson, Mo., and two sisters, Kimberly Wilson and Karen Sergeant, who reside in Lexington, S.C.

Major General Bannister attended Pepperell High School in Lyndale, Ga. He enlisted in 1979 and began his 37 year military career.  He received his GED prior to enlisting in the US Army.  After a 3 year enlistment in the 82nd Airborne, he attended and graduated from Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC, where he was commissioned in 1984 as a Distinguished Honor Graduate and US Army Infantry Officer through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program.

As a commissioned officer, he served in the 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, N.C.; the 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, GA; 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea and then returned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.  He commanded at every level from company (X2) through division level.  He commanded his battalion and brigade in Germany (2000-03) and Fort Carson, CO (2005-08), respectively.  He served as the Deputy Commanding General for Operations, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY (2009-11); Deputy J3 at Central Command in Tampa, FL (2014-15); Commanding General of the 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, NY (2015-17).  He recently served this past year at US Army Central Command as a Special Assistant to the Commanding General, as he prepared for transition to retirement.

He deployed overseas on numerous occasions in support of Operation Joint Guardian in the Balkans,(1998), Operation Essential Harvest in Macedonia (2000-01), 3 tours to Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, and 3 tours to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom Sentinel in Afghanistan.

He was a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne, Pathfinder, and Ranger schools, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and National War College, and earned a Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. His awards and decorations included the Expert and Combat Infantryman Badges, the Combat Action Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, and Pathfinder Badge.  His medals include, Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Superior Service Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Legion of Merit (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Service Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), and Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Silver Oak Leaf Clusters).

Major General Bannister will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Ceremony.

The family will receive guest from 4pm to 8pm Monday, June 11, 2018 with an awards service at 6pm, at Cunningham Turch Funeral Home, 811 Cameron St. Alexandria,VA 22314.  Funeral Services will be held at 2:45pm Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at the Memorial Chapel at Arlington National Cemetery, followed by interment.