VAN BUREN – The son of a Van Buren potato grower returned home Saturday to receive the gold star that makes him a brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserve.

John C. Levasseur, 51, began his 31-year military career as a private in the Army National Guard at Caribou in 1971. His promotion makes him one of 60 brigadier generals among the 205,000 soldiers making up the reserves.

Brig. Gen. William Libby, deputy adjutant general, Maine Army National Guard, presented the promotion at ceremonies attended by more than 150 people at the Van Buren Levasseur-Farrell Post of the American Legion, where Levasseur is a member.

Several members of his family assisted in the ceremony. His wife, Linda, also a Van Buren native, pinned one of the stars on his shoulder. Their daughter Terrie carried the tray that held the epaulets for the ceremony, and their son Benjamin presented Levasseur with his pistol belt.

Two of Levasseur’s uncles, Gilbert Violette and Albert Morrow, both of Van Buren, presented the new general with his personal U.S. Army general officer’s red flag with a single white star. Aurele Collins, Linda Levasseur’s uncle, presented the general with his black beret with a single general’s star.

Also attending were his mother, Marcella Levasseur of Van Buren, and two of Levasseur’s brothers.

“I have family here and my roots are here,” Gen. Levasseur said when asked why the ceremony was held in Van Buren. “I will have a separate ceremony with my soldier family next week.

“My family and I have visited here three or four times a year since we moved away,” he said. “When we were here at Christmas, local Legionnaires told me they wanted to do something here for my promotion.”

He said the small-town values learned as he grew up in Van Buren served him well through the years. He told his family and friends at the ceremony that he hopes his accomplishments are a reflection of his hometown.

“I understand the sacrifices and dedication it took for him to get to this point in his military career,” Libby said. “His military resume is befitting a general, and he represents the best America has to offer.

“He has been successful not only in the military, but also in his professional civilian life,” he said. “It’s also apparent that he never left Van Buren behind.”

Levasseur began his career as a radio teletype operator with the 152nd field artillery unit at Caribou. He became a sergeant within two years. He earned his commission as an officer after attending Massachusetts Military Academy.

After several years in the National Guard in Massachusetts, he transferred to the Mississippi National Guard where he was promoted to first lieutenant and captain.

A civilian transfer to New York changed his military job as well and he went from armor and artillery into transportation. While in New York he was promoted to major, lieutenant colonel and colonel. He later was reassigned in New York and was assistant deputy chief of staff for mobilization, readiness and intelligence.

Since last June he has been director for mobilization for the joint reserve force for the Army, Navy and Air Force.

In his 31 years in the military, Levasseur served on active duty for one year, was in the Army National Guard for 12 years and has been in the Army reserves since 1983.

In civilian life, Levasseur is a district manager for AT&T. His office is responsible for the design and development of billing system applications.

The Van Buren man is a 1971 graduate of the University of Maine in Orono. He holds a bachelor’s degree from UM, a master’s degree in administration from Mississippi State University, an MBA from George Washington University, and a degree in international business from Penn State University.

Levasseur and his family now live in Hillsborough, N.J.