Leon J. LaPorte

Leon J. LaPorte
General LaPorte as Commander, United Nations Command, ROK-US Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea
Born	(1946-05-05) 5 May 1946 (age 79) Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Years of service	1968–2006
Rank	General
Commands	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 5 May 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.

Career

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]

Awards and decorations

	Army Basic Aviator Badge
	Ranger tab
	Basic Parachutist Badge
	Army Staff Identification Badge
	United Nations Command Badge
	1st Cavalry Division Combat Service Identification Badge
	9th Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia

	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)

LaPorte before the Senate Armed Services Committee on 23 September 2004

References

1. Nominations Before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Second Session, 107th Congress (PDF). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 2003. pp. 51–54. ISBN   9780160695216 . Retrieved 29 March 2021.
2. "CSCE :: Article :: Helsinki Commission, House Armed Services Committee Examine Trafficking in Persons". Csce.gov. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
3. Archived October 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
4. "Asia-Pacific | US soldiers charged for Korean deaths". BBC News. 5 July 2002. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
5. "Two S Korean teenagers run over US military vehicle". Ibiblio.org. Retrieved 15 May 2013.