Leon J. LaPorte | |
---|---|
Born | Providence, Rhode Island | May 5, 1946
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1968–2006 |
Rank | General |
Commands held | U.S. Forces Korea III Corps 1st Cavalry Division |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War Gulf War |
Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Meritorious Service Medal (4) Air Medal (With Valor Device) Army Commendation Medal (With Valor Device) |
Leon J. LaPorte (born May 5, 1946) [1] is a retired United States Army General who served as Commander, 1st Cavalry Division from 1995 through 1997 and as Commander, United States Forces Korea until 2006.
LaPorte graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.A. degree in biology [1] in 1968 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army as an Armor Officer. From 1969 until 1970 he served with the 3rd Infantry Division, in 1971 he transferred to the 238th Aerial Weapons Company in the Republic of Vietnam. In 1977 he received his M.S. degree in Administration from the University of California, Irvine. From 1977 until 1980 he was an assistant professor at the United States Military Academy. In October 1990 as the Chief of Staff, 1st Cavalry Division he deployed as part of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He returned in 1995 to command the 1st Cavalry Division until 1997. From February 2003 until February 2006 he was commander of United States Forces Korea (USFK) and United Nations Forces, Korea. In February he retired from the Army after 38 years of service, handing command to U.S. Army General Burwell B. Bell III.
LaPorte played a major part in an investigation of the involvement U.S. military personnel in hiring prostitutes and facilitating human trafficking in South Korea. [2] [3] [4] Laporte gave an apology to the families of the two South Korean junior high-school girls that were accidentally run over and killed by a U.S. armored vehicle in 2002. [5]
Defense Distinguished Service Medal | |
Army Distinguished Service Medal | |
Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters | |
Distinguished Flying Cross | |
Bronze Star | |
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters | |
Air Medal with "V" device and bronze award numeral 9 | |
Army Commendation Medal with "V" device | |
Army Achievement Medal | |
Meritorious Unit Commendation | |
National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars | |
Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars | |
Southwest Asia Service Medal with three service stars | |
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | |
Armed Forces Service Medal | |
Army Service Ribbon | |
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 2 | |
Bundeswehr Cross of Honor in Silver (Republic of Germany) | |
Order of National Security Merit, Tong-il Medal (Republic of Korea) | |
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | |
Vietnam Campaign Medal | |
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) | |
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) |
III Corps is a corps of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Cavazos, Texas. It is a major formation of the United States Army Forces Command.
Burwell Baxter Bell III is a retired United States Army four-star general.
John William "Jack" Vessey Jr. was a career officer in the United States Army. He attained the rank of general, and was most notable for his service as the tenth chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and is the largest part of the Mexican Armed Forces; it is also known as the National Defense Army.
Lieutenant General Hobart Raymond Gay, nicknamed "Hap", was a United States Army officer who served in numerous conflicts, including World War II, where he worked closely alongside General George S. Patton, and later in the Korean War, where he commanded the 1st Cavalry Division.
The Philippine Army (PA) is the main, oldest and largest branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), responsible for ground warfare and as of 2021 had an estimated strength of 101,000 soldiers backed by 100,000 ready reserves. The service branch was established on December 21, 1935, as the Philippine Commonwealth Army. The Philippine Army has engaged in many conflicts including the ongoing Communist rebellion in the Philippines, the Moro conflict and, alongside other national military forces, in conflicts of international scope.
James David Thurman is a retired United States Army general who served as the Commander of United Nations Command, R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea from July 14, 2011 until October 2, 2013. He previously served as the 18th Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command from June 3, 2010 to July 8, 2011 and as Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7. He was the former commanding general of United States V Corps in Heidelberg, Germany from January 19, 2007 to August 8, 2007.
R. Steven Whitcomb is a retired United States Army lieutenant general. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation from the University of Virginia in 1970. In his final assignment he served as Inspector General of the United States Army.
General Donn Albert Starry was a United States Army four-star general who served as commanding general of United States Army Training and Doctrine Command from 1977 to 1981, and as commander in chief of United States Readiness Command from 1981 to 1983.
Thomas Wade Herren was a United States Army officer and combat commander whose career spanned from World War I to the post-Korean War era.
Robert William Cone was a United States Army four-star general who last served as the commanding general of United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). He assumed command of TRADOC on April 29, 2011. He previously served as the commander of Fort Hood and III Corps on September 22, 2009, with which he deployed to Iraq in February 2010, and served as the Deputy Commanding General for Operations, United States Forces – Iraq, until February 2011. Prior to that, he served as the Special Assistant to the Commanding General of TRADOC. He retired in 2014.
Walter Lawrence "Skip" Sharp, is a retired United States Army four-star general, who last served as the Commander, United Nations Command, Commander, ROK-US Combined Forces Command and Commander, U.S. Forces Korea from June 3, 2008 to July 14, 2011. He previously served as the Director of the Joint Staff from 2005 to June 2008. Sharp retired from the Army in July 2011.
The history of the United States Army began in 1775. From its formation, the United States Army has been the primary land based part of the United States Armed Forces. The Army's main responsibility has been in fighting land battles and military occupation. The Corps of Engineers also has a major role in controlling rivers inside the United States. The Continental Army was founded in response to a need for professional soldiers in the American Revolutionary War to fight the invading British Army. Until the 1940s, the Army was relatively small in peacetime. In 1947, the Air Force became completely independent of the Army Air Forces. The Army was under the control of the War Department until 1947, and since then the Defense Department. The U.S. Army fought the Indian Wars of the 1790s, the War of 1812 (1812–15), Mexican–American War (1846-1848), American Civil War (1861–65), American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War (1898), World War I (1917–18), World War II (1941–45), Korean War (1950–53) and Vietnam War (1965–71). Following the Cold War's end in 1991, Army has focused primarily on Western Asia, and also took part in the 1991 Gulf War and war in Iraq, and the war in Afghanistan.
John Howell Collier was a lieutenant general in the United States Army. He was notable as a commander of 2nd Armored Division units in World War II and as the Army's Chief of Armor.
Thomas Leonard Harrold was a United States Army lieutenant general. He was commander of the 9th Armored Division, United States Army Armor School, 1st Cavalry Division, 8th Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Division, III Corps, and United States Army Caribbean. From 1958 to 1961 he served as commandant of the National War College.
Gordon Byrom Rogers was a United States Army lieutenant general who served in several command positions during World War II and the Korean War, including the United States Military Advisory Group to the Republic of Korea and the 3rd Armored Division.
Robert Bruce Abrams is a retired four-star general in the United States Army who last served as the commander of United States Forces Korea. He concurrently served as the commander of United Nations Command and commander of R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command. He previously served as the 22nd commanding general of United States Army Forces Command from August 10, 2015 to October 17, 2018. He is a 1982 graduate of the United States Military Academy where he was commissioned as an armor officer. During his years of active service, he has held command and staff positions across the Army and joint community in Germany, the United States, Southwest Asia and South Korea. Abrams comes from a family of career military officers. His father was former Army Chief of Staff General Creighton W. Abrams Jr., and both of his elder brothers, Creighton and John, were Army general officers.
Lieutenant General Sean Barry MacFarland is a retired three-star general who served in the United States Army.
John Tupper Cole was a highly decorated officer in the United States Army with the rank of Brigadier General. A graduate of the United States Military Academy and veteran of both World Wars, he is most noted for his service as Colonel and Commanding officer, Combat Command B, 5th Armored Division during combats on the Western Front.
Major General John Gillespie Hill, Jr. was a United States Army officer who served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War.