He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, and is most noted as Commanding general, 8th Armored Division in the European Theater of Operations during World War II.

[1] Other classmates include: Clare H. Armstrong, Aaron Bradshaw Jr., Mark W. Clark, John T. Cole, Norman D. Cota, William W. Eagles, Theodore L. Futch, Charles H. Gerhardt, Augustus M. Gurney, Ernest N. Harmon, William Kelly Harrison Jr., Robert W. Hasbrouck, Frederick A. Irving, Laurence B. Keiser, Charles S. Kilburn, Bryant E. Moore, Daniel Noce, Onslow S. Rolfe, Herbert N. Schwarzkopf, Albert C. Smith, George D. Wahl, Raymond E. S. Williamson, and George H.

[3] Devine graduated with Bachelor of Science degree on April 20, 1917, shortly following the United States entry into World War I, and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Field Artillery Branch.

[1] Upon the graduation from Yale, Devine was ordered to the Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he served as an instructor of tactics until July 1923, when he was transferred to the West Point Military Academy for same assignment.

[1] He completed the course in July 1929 and remained there as an instructor in gunnery until June 1932, when he was promoted to major and ordered back to West Point for duty as an assistant professor of English.

[2][1] Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and United States entry into World War II, Devine was promoted to the temporary rank of colonel on December 11, 1941, and appointed Chief of Staff, I Armored Corps under Major general George S.

After two months of training in England, 90th Division landed on Utah Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and participated in the combats in Normandy, France and in the closing of the Falaise Pocket.

When a large force of enemy tanks, armored vehicles and infantry, penetrated the front, the breakthrough extended to the Divisional command post, a fire fight commenced immediately.

[4][1] The citation for the medal reads: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Brigadier General John Matthew Devine (ASN: 0-5232), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, Division Artillery, 90th Infantry Division in Northern France.

On 8 September 1944 near ****, France, when a large force of enemy tanks, armored vehicles and infantry, penetrated the front, the breakthrough extended to the Command Posts of ****, a fire fight commenced immediately.

[1][5] Devine was promoted to the temporary rank of major general on May 2, 1945, and following the surrender of Nazi Germany few days later, he led his division to Pilsen, Czechoslovakia for occupation duty and guarding of German Prisoners-of-War.

[2][1][6][7] In January 1948, Devine was transferred to Fort Monroe, Virginia for duty as Assistant Chief of Staff (G-3), Army Field Forces under General Jacob L. Devers.

He participated in the occupation duty until August that year, when he was sent back to the United States and assumed command of 9th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado.

[2][1][9] The VTCC Major General John M. Devine Scholarship at Virginia Tech is named in his honor for undergraduate students who are members in good standing of the VT Corps of Cadets.