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Michael Durant

2025-10-18T05:24:24Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:D5D6:391C:8D6F:7454: /* Awards and decorations */

{{Short description|American combat pilot (born 1961)}}
{{About||people of the same name|Michael Durant (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox politician
| name = Michael Durant
| image = File:Michael Durant delivers a professional development seminar at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey (cropped).jpg
| birth_name = Michael John Durant
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|7|23}}
| birth_place = [[Berlin, New Hampshire]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| education = [[Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]], [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]])
| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
| branch = {{army|United States}}
| serviceyears = 1979–2001
| rank = [[Chief Warrant Officer 4]]
| unit = [[101st Aviation Regiment]] [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment]]
| battles = [[Operation Prime Chance]] [[Operation Just Cause]] [[Gulf War]] [[Operation Gothic Serpent]] {{*}}[[Battle of Mogadishu (1993)|Battle of Mogadishu]]
| mawards = [[Army Distinguished Service Medal]] [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] (3) [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] [[Purple Heart]] [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] [[Air Medal]] (3) [[Prisoner of War Medal]]
| caption = Durant in 2017
}}
'''Michael John Durant'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/08c5cba4e99247249625503de742e950|title=Pentagon has protocol for returned captives|last=Burns|first=Robert|work=[[Associated Press]]|date=June 6, 2014|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401035331/https://apnews.com/article/08c5cba4e99247249625503de742e950|url-status=live}}</ref> (born July 23, 1961) is an American veteran, former pilot, businessman, author, and political candidate. He fought in the 1993 [[Battle of Mogadishu (1993)|Battle of Mogadishu]] while serving as a [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] pilot,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alreporter.com/2021/10/19/a-late-entry-in-the-u-s-senate-race/|title=Mike Durant officially enters Alabama U.S. Senate race|last=Moon|first=Josh|work=Alabama Political Reporter|date=October 19, 2021|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401035331/https://www.alreporter.com/2021/10/19/a-late-entry-in-the-u-s-senate-race/|url-status=live}}</ref> and ran unsuccessfully in the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary for the [[2022 United States Senate election in Alabama]].

Durant was a member of the [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment]] (Night Stalkers), He participated in several combat operations, including [[Operation Prime Chance|Prime Chance]], [[Operation Just Cause|Just Cause]], [[Gulf War|Desert Storm]], and 1993's [[Operation Gothic Serpent|Gothic Serpent]], during which he was held [[Prisoner of war|prisoner]] for 11 days. Promoted from [[Warrant Officer (United States)|Chief Warrant Officer 3]], he retired in 2001 as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 [[Black Hawk helicopter]] Master Aviator.

In retirement, Durant published a book detailing his experiences, gave talks, and founded an engineering company in [[Huntsville, Alabama]]. He became politically active as a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]].<ref>{{Citation |title=United States of America |date=2022 |work=The Statesman’s Yearbook 2023: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World |pages=1225–1347 |url=https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-96056-9_195 |access-date=2024-07-09 |place=London |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK |language=en |doi=10.1057/978-1-349-96056-9_195 |isbn=978-1-349-96056-9|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Early life and military training==
Durant was born on July 23, 1961, in [[Berlin, New Hampshire]],<ref name="UCSB">{{Cite web|url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/press-release-statement-michael-durant-joe-bidens-comments-about-being-shot-iraq|title=Press Release - Statement By Michael Durant On Joe Biden's Comments About Being "Shot At" In Iraq|website=presidency.ucsb.edu|publisher=[[University of California, Santa Barbara]]|date=October 1, 2008|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401035331/https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/press-release-statement-michael-durant-joe-bidens-comments-about-being-shot-iraq|url-status=live}}</ref> the son of Leon Durant and Louise (nee Boucher).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.conwaydailysun.com/berlin_sun/community/leon-r-durant/article_b8b0846a-9c79-56a4-b184-14aa1b5f8d6e.html|title=Leon R. Durant|work=The Berlin Sun|date=October 4, 2010|accessdate=March 31, 2022}}</ref> He enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1979;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gadsdenmessenger.com/u-s-senate-candidate-mike-durant-visits-gadsden/|title=U.S. Senate candidate Mike Durant visits Gadsden|last=Bohannon|first=Katie|work=The Gadsden Messenger|date=8 March 2022 |accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401064244/https://gadsdenmessenger.com/u-s-senate-candidate-mike-durant-visits-gadsden/|url-status=live}}</ref> after completing [[basic training]], he attended the [[Defense Language Institute]]. He was assigned to the 470th Military Intelligence Group at [[Fort Clayton]] in [[Panama]] as a [[Spanish language|Spanish]] voice intercept operator. Durant finished [[helicopter]] flight training at [[Fort Rucker]], [[Alabama]].<ref name="UCSB" /> During [[flight school]], he flew the [[TH-55]] trainer and [[UH-1 Iroquois|UH-1]] [[helicopter]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/66864/blackhawk-michael-durant/|title=Black Hawk Down: Michael Durant|work=VAntage Point|publisher=[[United States Department of Veterans Affairs]]|date=October 3, 2019|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120235537/https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/66864/blackhawk-michael-durant/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==U.S. Army service==
[[File:Michael Durant is presented the Honorable Order of St. Michael.jpg|thumb|Durant presented with the Honorable Order of St. Michael in 2001]]
[[File:Michael Durant speaks to officers at Tyndall Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|Durant speaks to officers at [[Tyndall Air Force Base]] in 2002]]
In November 1983, Durant completed the UH-60 Black Hawk Aviators Qualification Course, was promoted to Warrant Officer 1, and was assigned to the 377th Medical Evacuation Company in [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]. By 1985, Durant had flown more than 150 medical evacuation missions in the UH-1 and [[UH-60 Black Hawk|UH-60]] helicopters. He was later assigned to the 101st (Division) Aviation Battalion at [[Fort Campbell]], [[Kentucky]]. While serving as a Chief Warrant Officer 2, he took the [[flight instructor]]'s pilot course and conducted air assault missions in the UH-60. Durant joined the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) on August 1, 1988. Assigned to D Company, he performed duties as Flight Lead and Standardization Instructor Pilot. He participated in combat operations [[Operation Prime Chance|Prime Chance]], [[Operation Just Cause|Just Cause]], and [[Gulf War|Operation Desert Storm]], where he was the first U.S. helicopter pilot to shoot at a [[SCUD]] [[missile]] launcher.<ref name="UCSB" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.au.af.mil/au/goe/eagle_bios/2005/durant_2005.html|title=ACSC GOE: Michael J. Durant 2005 Biography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071126083736/http://www.au.af.mil/au/goe/eagle_bios/2005/durant_2005.html|date=2005|archivedate=November 26, 2007}}</ref>

==="Black Hawk Down" incident===
During [[Operation Gothic Serpent]] in Somalia, Durant was the pilot of helicopter "Super Six Four.” His was the second of two [[UH-60 Black Hawk|MH-60L]] Black Hawk helicopters shot down during the [[Battle of Mogadishu (1993)|Battle of Mogadishu]] on October 3, 1993. After his helicopter was hit on the tail by an [[RPG-7]], it crashed about a mile southwest of the operation's target.<ref>{{cite book|title= The battle of Mogadishu: first-hand accounts from the men of Task Force Ranger|url= https://archive.org/details/battleofmogadish00ever|url-access= registration|first=Matt|last= Eversmann|page=[https://archive.org/details/battleofmogadish00ever/page/36 36]|publisher =Presidio Press|year= 2005 |isbn=978-0-345-45966-4 }}</ref>

Durant and his crew of three, Bill Cleveland, Ray Frank, and Tommy Field, were badly injured in the crash. Durant suffered a crushed [[vertebra]] in his back and a [[Bone fracture|compound fracture]] of his left femur.<ref name="CNN">{{Cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0201/27/lklw.00.html|title=Encore Presentation: 1993 Interview With Michael Durant|work=CNN: Larry King Weekend|date=January 27, 2002|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=October 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006210116/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0201/27/lklw.00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Three [[Delta Force]] snipers, [[Gary Gordon|MSG Gary Gordon]], [[Randy Shughart|SFC Randy Shughart]] and MSG Brad Halling had been providing suppressive fire from the air at hostile Somalis who were converging on the crash site. All three volunteered for insertion onto the ground to protect the crew and join Durant in fighting off the advancing Somalis, although Halling took over the Blackhawk's minigun after a crew chief was injured before permission was granted and only Gordon and Shugart were inserted. The pair killed numerous Somalis before they ran out of ammunition. They were soon overwhelmed and killed, after Cleveland, Frank and Field had died. Gordon and Shughart received the [[Medal of Honor]] posthumously for their heroism in this action.<ref name=willbanks>{{cite book|title=America's Heroes: Medal of Honor Recipients from the Civil War to Afghanistan |first=James H.|last=Willbanks |page=308|publisher= ABC-CLIO|year=2011 |isbn= 978-1-59884-393-4 }}</ref>

The hostile Somalis captured Durant, the sole American survivor, and held him captive for 11 days. During much of his imprisonment, he was personally protected and cared for by Abdullahi "Firimbi" Hassan, a physician and propaganda minister to Somali General [[Mohamed Farrah Aidid]], though he was shot in his arm by an intruding militia member. Aidid then released Durant and a [[Nigerian]] soldier who had been captured previously into the custody of the [[International Committee of the Red Cross]].<ref name="CNN"/>

After being freed, and recovering at [[Landstuhl Regional Medical Center]] (LRMC) in [[Germany]], Durant resumed flying with the 160th SOAR. He retired from the Army in 2001 with more than 3,700 flight hours, over 1,400 of which were flown with [[Night vision device|night vision goggles]].<ref>{{cite book|title= A History of Army Aviation: From Its Beginnings to the War on Terror|first=James|last= Williams|page=373|publisher =iUniverse|year= 2005 |isbn=978-0-595-36608-8 }}</ref>

Durant's military service awards include the [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Distinguished Service Medal]], [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] with [[Oak leaf cluster|Oak Leaf Cluster]], [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] with [[Valor device|Valor Device]], [[Purple Heart]], [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]], three [[Air Medal]]s and the [[Prisoner of War Medal]], among others.<ref name="joinsAL">{{Cite web |last=Cason |first=Mike |date=October 19, 2021 |title=Mike Durant, Black Hawk pilot shot down in Somalia, joins Alabama Senate race |url=https://www.al.com/news/2021/10/mike-durant-black-hawk-pilot-shot-down-in-somalia-joins-alabama-senate-race.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401035331/https://www.al.com/news/2021/10/mike-durant-black-hawk-pilot-shot-down-in-somalia-joins-alabama-senate-race.html |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |accessdate=March 31, 2022 |work=AL.com}}</ref>

==Business ventures and writing==
After his retirement, Durant moved to Alabama and began offering seminars to military personnel about helicopter maneuvering and [[combat search and rescue]] (CSAR) operations.<ref name="joinsAL" /> Durant talked about the Somalia raid and his experiences in captivity. He spoke extensively with actor [[Ron Eldard]], who portrayed him in the 2001 film ''[[Black Hawk Down (film)|Black Hawk Down]]'', which depicts the events of the raid.<ref>{{cite book|title= Combat Films: American Realism, 1945 – 2010|url= https://archive.org/details/combatfilmsameri00rubi|url-access= limited|edition=2|first=Steven Jay|last= Rubin |page=[https://archive.org/details/combatfilmsameri00rubi/page/n269 259]|publisher =McFarland|year= 2011 |isbn=978-0-7864-5892-9}}</ref>

In 2003, Durant published a book, ''[[In the Company of Heroes]]'', in which he chronicled his military career and his captivity.<ref>{{Cite book|author1=Durant, Michael|author2=Hartov, Steven|name-list-style=amp|title=In the Company of Heroes|publisher=Putnam Pub Group|year=2003|isbn=0-399-15060-9|url=https://archive.org/details/incompanyofheroe00dura}}</ref>

Durant holds a [[Bachelor of Science|BSc]] degree in professional aeronautics and an [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] degree in aviation management from the [[Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University]]. In 2008, he became owner, president and CEO of Pinnacle Solutions, an engineering services company based in [[Huntsville, Alabama]].<ref name="joinsAL" /><ref name="YHN">{{Cite web|url=https://yellowhammernews.com/black-hawk-down-pow-mike-durant-considering-potential-run-for-u-s-senate/|title='Black Hawk Down' POW Mike Durant considering potential run for U.S. Senate|last=Smith|first=Dylan|work=Yellowhammer News|date=September 3, 2021|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421121954/https://yellowhammernews.com/black-hawk-down-pow-mike-durant-considering-potential-run-for-u-s-senate/|url-status=live}}</ref> The company's clients include the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]], the [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] and [[NASA]]. In December 2021, after he began running for U.S. Senate, Durant turned over control of Pinnacle Solutions to its employees via an [[Employee Stock Ownership Plan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/politics/2022/01/senate-candidate-mike-durant-turns-over-company-to-employees.html|title=Senate candidate Mike Durant turns over company to employees|last=Garrison|first=Greg|work=AL.com|date=January 18, 2022|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401035332/https://www.al.com/politics/2022/01/senate-candidate-mike-durant-turns-over-company-to-employees.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Political career==
===Early activities===
Durant became involved in politics after his retirement from the military; as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], he served on the presidential campaigns of [[George W. Bush]] in [[George W. Bush 2004 presidential campaign|2004]] and [[John McCain]] in [[John McCain 2008 presidential campaign|2008]], both times in a veterans' leadership role.<ref name="YHN" />

In July 2008, Durant criticized then-presidential candidate [[Barack Obama]] for having cancelled a planned trip to LRMC near [[Ramstein Air Base]] where he had intended, while in Europe, to visit American casualties of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Durant said he thought this was inappropriate for a potential commander in chief.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/black-hawk-down-vet-condemns-obama|title='Black Hawk Down' Vet Condemns Obama|work=Fox News|date=July 29, 2008|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=January 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115071824/https://www.foxnews.com/story/black-hawk-down-vet-condemns-obama|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Scott Gration]], a retired two-star Air Force general who advised the Obama campaign, said in a response that Obama "did not want to see our wounded warriors perceived as a campaign event when his visit was to show his appreciation for our troops and decided instead not to go."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/obama-skips-visit-with-troops|title=The Cancellation of Obama's Troop Visit|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Jeff|last=Zeleny|date=July 25, 2008|accessdate=November 5, 2016|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923171018/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/obama-skips-visit-with-troops/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2011, Durant gave a speech to the [[United States Army War College|U.S. Army War College]], during which he mentioned the opinion that "disarming the population," like what had been done in [[Somalia]], would be "a pretty good step toward law and order" in U.S. cities. The comments re-emerged during Durant's campaign for the U.S. Senate; the campaign of primary opponent [[Katie Britt]] charged that Durant's worldview was "not conservative."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yellowhammernews.com/katie-britt-spokesman-sean-ross-blasts-mike-durants-view-on-the-second-amendment-its-not-conservative/|title=Katie Britt spokesman Sean Ross blasts Mike Durant's view on the Second Amendment — 'It's not conservative'|author=Yaffee|work=Yellowhammer News|date=April 6, 2022|accessdate=April 13, 2022|archive-date=April 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414020001/https://yellowhammernews.com/katie-britt-spokesman-sean-ross-blasts-mike-durants-view-on-the-second-amendment-its-not-conservative/|url-status=live}}</ref> Durant claimed that media outlets had mischaracterized and taken his statements out of context. In an interview with radio host [[Phil Williams (Alabama senator)|Phil Williams]], Durant stated, "I'm not condoning it. In fact, I'm arguing against it, that it really isn't a smart tactic – certainly not when you're outnumbered like we were there."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/durant-favored-gun-control-in-2011-speech-now-says-comment-mischaracterized.html|title=Durant favored gun control in 2011 speech, now says comment 'mischaracterized'|last=Gattis|first=Paul|work=AL.com|date=April 5, 2022|accessdate=April 13, 2022|archive-date=April 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413175203/https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/durant-favored-gun-control-in-2011-speech-now-says-comment-mischaracterized.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2022 U.S. Senate candidacy===
In September 2021, media speculation arose regarding a possible run for U.S. Senate by Durant.<ref name="YHN" /> He officially launched a campaign for the office on October 19, 2021, running to replace retiring incumbent senator [[Richard Shelby]] in [[2022 United States Senate election in Alabama|2022]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whnt.com/news/mike-durant-businessman-and-black-hawk-down-veteran-enters-alabama-senate-race/|title=Mike Durant, businessman and 'Black Hawk Down' veteran, enters Alabama Senate race|last=Sanders|first=Jeff|work=WHNT|date=October 19, 2021|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=May 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526065904/https://whnt.com/news/mike-durant-businessman-and-black-hawk-down-veteran-enters-alabama-senate-race/|url-status=live}}</ref> A late entry to the race, Durant positioned himself as a political outsider and supporter of former president [[Donald Trump]], outlining an "Alabama First" campaign tour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alreporter.com/2022/01/04/durant-begins-alabama-first-campaign-tour/|title=Durant begins "Alabama First" campaign tour|work=Alabama Political Reporter|date=January 4, 2022|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=January 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118093413/https://www.alreporter.com/2022/01/04/durant-begins-alabama-first-campaign-tour/|url-status=live}}</ref> Durant was supported by the More Perfect Union [[political action committee]], which supports the formation of a caucus of centrist senators.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yellowhammernews.com/new-pac-heavily-invested-in-alabama-to-support-mike-durants-u-s-senate-candidacy/|title=New PAC heavily invested in Alabama to support Mike Durant's U.S. Senate candidacy|last=Smith|first=Dylan|work=Yellowhammer News|date=January 18, 2022|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=April 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411180452/https://yellowhammernews.com/new-pac-heavily-invested-in-alabama-to-support-mike-durants-u-s-senate-candidacy/|url-status=live}}</ref>

By March 2022, Durant began to lead in polls against the two major opposing candidates in the Republican primary, Shelby's former Chief of Staff [[Katie Britt]] and Representative [[Mo Brooks]]. Durant's lead expanded after Brooks was un-endorsed by Trump.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/03/alabama-senate-race-mike-durant-surges-to-double-digit-lead-poll-says.html|title=Alabama Senate race: Mike Durant surges to double-digit lead, poll says|last=Gattis|first=Paul|work=AL.com|date=March 30, 2022|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331051724/https://www.al.com/news/2022/03/alabama-senate-race-mike-durant-surges-to-double-digit-lead-poll-says.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That same month, In interviews, Durant espoused the [[Big lie#Donald Trump's false claims of a stolen election|false claim]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crowley |first=Michael |date=November 6, 2020 |title=Trump's False Election Fraud Claims Split Republicans |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/06/us/politics/trump-election-republicans.html |access-date=May 16, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 24, 2021 |title=Trump continues to push false claims of election fraud in weekend flurry of press releases |url=https://news.yahoo.com/trump-continues-push-false-claims-171322665.html |access-date=May 16, 2021 |website=news.yahoo.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Kathryn |date=November 4, 2020 |title=Trump falsely claims he won election as millions of votes remain uncounted |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-speaks-election-night-live-stream-2020-11-04/ |access-date=May 16, 2021 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> that President [[Joe Biden]] was "not rightfully elected" in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]]; he said he would not have voted to [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count|certify the election results in January 2021]], and said he was in favor of removing Biden from office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yellowhammernews.com/exclusive-ala-senate-candidates-on-election-security-and-whether-2020-was-stolen/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Ala. Senate candidates on election security and whether 2020 was 'stolen'|last=Smith|first=Dylan|work=Yellowhammer News|date=March 29, 2022|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329211643/https://yellowhammernews.com/exclusive-ala-senate-candidates-on-election-security-and-whether-2020-was-stolen/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2022, the [[Alabama Republican Party]] proposed a series of televised debates between Durant, Britt, and Brooks. Durant's campaign did not agree to participate in these debates, and initially declined to comment when asked about them. This drew criticism from Britt, Brooks, and political analysts [[Quin Hillyer]] and [[Steve Flowers]]. Brooks said that Durant "has the public policy chops of a snail," while Britt said Durant might have "something to hide."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/katie-britt-mo-brooks-agree-to-senate-debate-urge-mike-durant-to-participate.html|title=Katie Britt, Mo Brooks agree to Senate debate, urge Mike Durant to participate|work=AL.com|last=Gattis|first=Paul|date=April 13, 2022|accessdate=April 20, 2022|archive-date=April 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420170528/https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/katie-britt-mo-brooks-agree-to-senate-debate-urge-mike-durant-to-participate.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/mike-durant-silent-on-why-he-wont-debate-alabama-senate-rivals.html|title=Mike Durant silent on why he won't debate Alabama Senate rivals|work=AL.com|last=Koplowitz|first=Howard|date=April 19, 2022|accessdate=April 20, 2022|archive-date=April 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419224626/https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/mike-durant-silent-on-why-he-wont-debate-alabama-senate-rivals.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/katie-britt-says-mike-durant-debate-refusal-shows-he-clearly-has-something-to-hi-04-20-2022|title=Katie Britt says Mike Durant debate refusal shows he 'clearly has something to hide'|last=Poor|first=Jeff|work=[[1819 News]]|date=April 20, 2022|accessdate=April 20, 2022|archive-date=April 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420130206/https://1819news.com/news/item/katie-britt-says-mike-durant-debate-refusal-shows-he-clearly-has-something-to-hi-04-20-2022|url-status=live}}</ref> Alabama Republican Party chair [[John Wahl]] said that the debates were unlikely to occur without Durant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whnt.com/news/alabama-gop-u-s-senate-debate-unlikely-durant-wont-confirm-participation/|title=Alabama GOP: U.S. Senate debate unlikely, Durant won't confirm participation|last=Biertempfel|first=Maddie|work=WHNT|date=April 19, 2022|accessdate=April 20, 2022|archive-date=April 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420052211/https://whnt.com/news/alabama-gop-u-s-senate-debate-unlikely-durant-wont-confirm-participation/|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 21, 2022, Durant said he was open to debating but had scheduling conflicts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/politics/2022/04/mike-durant-breaks-silence-on-debating-alabama-us-senate-rivals-wed-be-glad-to-do-it.html|title=Mike Durant breaks silence on debating Alabama US Senate rivals: 'We'd be glad to do it'|last=Koplowitz|first=Howard|work=AL.com|date=April 21, 2022|accessdate=April 22, 2022|archive-date=April 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422012800/https://www.al.com/politics/2022/04/mike-durant-breaks-silence-on-debating-alabama-us-senate-rivals-wed-be-glad-to-do-it.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later, Durant formally declined the proposed dates, scuttling the plans for the debate series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alreporter.com/2022/05/02/durant-declines-offer-to-debate-katie-britt-mo-brooks/|title=Durant declines offer to debate Katie Britt, Mo Brooks|last=Burkhalter|first=Eddie|work=Alabama Political Reporter|date=May 2, 2022|accessdate=May 2, 2022|archive-date=May 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503134540/https://www.alreporter.com/2022/05/02/durant-declines-offer-to-debate-katie-britt-mo-brooks/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Durant began to slip in polls around May, weeks before the primary election. He was the subject of negative attack ads that contributed to a rising unfavorable rating among voters in polls. Durant was the subject of speculation that he did not actually live in Alabama, which ''[[The New York Times]]'' called "a false claim."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/22/us/politics/alabama-senate-mo-brooks.html|title=Scorned by Trump, Mo Brooks Rises in Alabama Senate Race|last=Gabriel|first=Trip|work=The New York Times|date=May 22, 2022|accessdate=May 24, 2022|archive-date=May 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523234131/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/22/us/politics/alabama-senate-mo-brooks.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Durant's views on immigration attracted attention shortly before the primary; he claimed in a radio interview that increased legal immigration was "[[America First (policy)|America First]]" while also saying that he was "the toughest on illegal immigration."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/mike-durant-doubles-down-says-more-legal-immigration-is-america-first|title=Mike Durant doubles down, says more legal immigration is 'America First'|last=Poor|first=Jeff|work=1819 News|date=May 14, 2022|accessdate=June 6, 2022|archive-date=June 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606171038/https://1819news.com/news/item/mike-durant-doubles-down-says-more-legal-immigration-is-america-first|url-status=live}}</ref> On the night of the primary on May 24, Durant conceded the election after preliminary results showed him in third place behind Britt and Brooks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/05/alabama-primary-election-2022-live-updates-results-from-senate-governor-other-races.html|title=Alabama Primary Election 2022: Results, live updates; Durant concedes in US Senate race|work=AL.com|date=May 24, 2022|accessdate=May 24, 2022|archive-date=May 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524125635/https://www.al.com/news/2022/05/alabama-primary-election-2022-live-updates-results-from-senate-governor-other-races.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Some speculated that Durant would endorse Brooks,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/durant-hints-at-mo-brooks-endorsement-if-he-misses-runoff-calls-britt-campaign-corrupt|title=Durant hints at Mo Brooks endorsement if he misses runoff, calls Britt campaign 'corrupt'|last=Poor|first=Jeff|work=1819 News|date=May 24, 2022|accessdate=June 6, 2022|archive-date=June 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603020941/https://1819news.com/news/item/durant-hints-at-mo-brooks-endorsement-if-he-misses-runoff-calls-britt-campaign-corrupt|url-status=live}}</ref> but in June he officially declined to endorse Brooks or Britt, lambasting the political process and the two remaining candidates. Durant also said that his campaign would be his last foray into politics, blaming his loss on "blatant" untrue attack ads.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-mo-brooks-congress-alabama-aa92861e4b4b273b65fd2ecbf67a6e87|title=Durant won't endorse in Alabama's Senate runoff|work=Associated Press|date=June 4, 2022|accessdate=June 6, 2022|archive-date=June 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605174015/https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-mo-brooks-congress-alabama-aa92861e4b4b273b65fd2ecbf67a6e87|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Durant and his wife, Lisa (also a former Army aviator), reside in [[Madison, Alabama]]. They have six children and three grandchildren.<ref name="joinsAL" /> Durant's previous marriage to his first wife, Lorrie, ended in divorce; Durant later said that his handling of the media attention he received in the wake of the "Black Hawk Down" incident "probably was a contributing factor" to the divorce.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/03/14/us/mike-durant-rewind/index.html|title=Mike Durant: More than just the 'Black Hawk Down' guy|last=Cohen|first=Zachary|work=CNN|date=March 14, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2022|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401035331/https://www.cnn.com/2016/03/14/us/mike-durant-rewind/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Works==
#{{Cite book|author1=Durant, Michael|author2=Hartov, Steven|name-list-style=amp|title=In the Company of Heroes|publisher=Putnam Pub Group|year=2003|isbn=0-399-15060-9|url=https://archive.org/details/incompanyofheroe00dura}}
#{{Cite book |author1=Durant, Michael |author2=Hartov, Steven |name-list-style=amp |title=The Night Stalkers|publisher=Putnam Pub Group|year=2006|isbn=0-399-15392-6}}

==Awards and decorations==
Durant's awards include:
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="3"|[[File:US Army Master Aviator Badge.png|240px]]
|-
| colspan="6"|[[File:U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|106px]] {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star Medal ribbon with "V" device, 1st award.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-leaf|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[File:Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|106px]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Service Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Prisoner of War Medal.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Army Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed_Forces_Expeditionary_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]]
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016), 1st award.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}[[File:Award numeral 2.png|20px]]
|[[File:United_Nations_Medal ribbon.svg|106px]]
|-
|[[File:United Nations Medal, Operation in Somalia ribbon.svg|106px]]
|[[Image:Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg|106px]]
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| colspan="3"|[[File:AirAssault.svg|120px]]
|-
|colspan="6"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint_Meritorious_Unit_Award_ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]] [[File:160th SOAR emblem.svg|80px]]
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="12"|[[United States Aviator Badge|U.S. Army Master Aviator badge]]
|-
|colspan="6"| [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]]
|colspan="6"| [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] {{small|with 2 [[Oak leaf cluster]]s}}
|-
|colspan="4"| [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] {{small|with [["V" device]]}}
|colspan="4"| [[Purple Heart]]
|colspan="4"| [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]
|-
|colspan="4"| [[Air Medal]] {{small|with 3 [[Oak leaf cluster|Oak leaf clusters]]}}
|colspan="4"| [[Commendation Medal|Army Commendation Medal]] {{small|with 2 [[Oak leaf cluster]]s}}
|colspan="4"| [[Achievement Medal|Joint Service Achievement Medal]]
|-
|colspan="4"| [[Achievement Medal|Army Achievement Medal]]
|colspan="4"| [[Prisoner of War Medal]]
|colspan="4"| [[Good Conduct Medal (United States)|Army Good Conduct Medal]]
|-
|colspan="4"| [[National Defense Service Medal]]
|colspan="4"| [[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]] {{small|with 3 [[Campaign star]]s}}
|colspan="4"| [[Southwest Asia Service Medal]] {{small|with 1 [[Campaign star]]}}
|-
|colspan="4"| [[Army Service Ribbon]]
|colspan="4"| [[Army Overseas Service Ribbon]] {{small|with [[award numeral]] 2}}
|colspan="4"| [[United Nations Medal]]
|-
|colspan="4"| [[United Nations Medal#United Nations Medal ribbons|United Nations Medal Operation in Somalia]] {{small|([[United Nations Operation in Somalia II|UNOSOM II]])}}
|colspan="4"| [[Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)|Kuwait Liberation Medal]] {{small|(Saudi Arabia)}}
|colspan="4"| [[Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)|Kuwait Liberation Medal]] {{small|(Kuwait)}}
|-
|colspan="12"| [[Air Assault Badge]]
|-
|colspan="6"| [[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]] {{small|with 3 [[Oak leaf cluster]]s}}
|colspan="6"| [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)|160th SOAR]] {{small|[[Distinctive unit insignia]]}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Durant, Michael}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:American Master Army Aviators]]
[[Category:American prisoners of war]]
[[Category:Battle of Mogadishu (1993)]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States Senate elections]]
[[Category:Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:New Hampshire Republicans]]
[[Category:People from Berlin, New Hampshire]]
[[Category:People from Madison, Alabama]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
[[Category:United States Army officers]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States elections]]

Charles Alvin Beckwith

2025-10-18T05:14:32Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:D5D6:391C:8D6F:7454: /* Awards and decorations */

{{Short description|U.S. Army Special Forces officer (1929–1994)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Charles Alvin Beckwith
| image = Charles_Beckwith.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| nickname = "Chargin' Charlie"
| birth_date = {{birth date|1929|1|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1994|6|13|1929|1|22|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Austin, Texas]], U.S.
| placeofburial = [[Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery]]
| allegiance = United States
| branch = [[United States Army]]
| serviceyears = 1952–1981
| rank = [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]]
| servicenumber =
| unit =
| commands = {{Plainlist|
* [[1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta|Delta Force]]
* [[327th Infantry Regiment (United States)|2nd Battalion, 327th Airborne Infantry Regiment]]
* [[Project DELTA|Special Forces Detachment B-52 (Project DELTA)]]
}}
| battles = {{Plainlist|
* [[Korean War]]
* [[Laotian Civil War]]
* [[Malayan Emergency]]
* [[Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation]]
* [[Vietnam War]]{{WIA}}
* [[Operation Eagle Claw]]
}}
| awards = {{Plainlist|
* [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]
* [[Silver Star]] (2)
* [[Legion of Merit]] (3)
* [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
* [[Bronze Star Medal]] (4)
* [[Purple Heart]]
}}
| alma_mater = [[University of Georgia]]
| relations = [[Paul R. Howe]] (son-in-law)
| laterwork = Security consultant
}}

'''Charles Alvin Beckwith''' (22 January 1929 – 13 June 1994) was a career [[Special Forces (United States Army)|United States Army Special Forces]] officer best remembered for creating [[Delta Force]], the premier [[counter terrorism|counterterrorism]] and [[asymmetric warfare]] unit of the United States Army, based on his experience serving with the British [[Special Air Service]]. He served in the [[Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation]] and the [[Vietnam War]], and attained the rank of [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] before his retirement.

==Early life and education==
Beckwith was born in [[Atlanta, Georgia]], on 22 January 1929, to [[Baptists|Baptist]] parents Elza Dozier Beckwith (1894–1940) and Clara Eugenia Beckwith ({{nee|Rey}}; 1895–1973). He was an all-state football player for his [[Henry W. Grady High School|high school]] team. He later enrolled in the [[University of Georgia]], where he was a member of the Delta chapter of the [[Sigma Chi]] fraternity, and [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps|ROTC]].

Beckwith lettered in football for the [[Georgia Bulldogs|Bulldogs]], and was approached by the [[Green Bay Packers]] for the [[1950 NFL Draft|1950–51 NFL draft]], but turned it down in favor of a military career. He was commissioned as a [[Second Lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]] in the [[United States Army]] in 1952.<ref name="2012 induction">{{cite web|title=Distinguished member of the special forces regiment – Colonel Charles A. Beckwith|url=http://www.soc.mil/SWCS/RegimentalHonors/_pdf/sf_beckwith.pdf|website=United States Army Special Operations Command|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221090013/http://www.soc.mil/SWCS/RegimentalHonors/_pdf/sf_beckwith.pdf|archive-date=21 December 2016|date=13 December 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Career==
After the [[Korean War]] (1950–1953) was over, then-Second Lieutenant Beckwith served as a platoon leader with Charlie Company, 17th Infantry Regiment, [[7th Infantry Division (United States)|7th Infantry Division]] in South Korea. In 1955, Beckwith was assigned to the [[82nd Airborne Division]] as the commander of the combat support company of the [[504th Infantry Regiment (United States)|504th Parachute Infantry Regiment]].

In 1958, after completing [[Ranger School]], Beckwith joined the [[United States Army Special Forces|Special Forces]] and was assigned to the [[7th Special Forces Group (United States)|7th Special Forces Group]]. In 1960, then-[[Captain (United States)|Captain]] Beckwith deployed to [[Laos]] for two years on [[Project Hotfoot (Laos)|Operation Hotfoot]].<ref name="2012 induction" />

In 1962, Beckwith was sent as an [[exchange officer]] to the British [[22 Special Air Service Regiment]] (SAS) where he commanded 3 Troop, A Squadron.<ref name="2012 induction" /> He conducted war-time guerilla operations with the SAS during the [[Malayan Emergency]].<ref name="2012 induction" /> In the jungle, he contracted a case of [[leptospirosis]] so severe that doctors did not expect him to survive. However, he made a full recovery within months.{{sfn|Beckwith|Knox|Mobley|2000|p=36}}

Upon his return from England, Beckwith presented a detailed report outlining the Army's vulnerability in not having an SAS-type unit. For several years, Beckwith (who was still a Captain) submitted and re-submitted the report to Army brass, only to be repeatedly thwarted in his efforts. Special Forces leadership at the time thought that they had enough on their hands and did not need the trouble of creating a new unit.{{sfn|Beckwith|Knox|Mobley|2000|p=48}}

Meanwhile, as the 7th SFG(A) operations officer, Beckwith went to work revolutionizing Green Beret training. Special Forces at the time focused on [[unconventional warfare (United States)|unconventional warfare]], and especially [[foreign internal defense]]: i.e. training indigenous personnel in resistance activities. But Beckwith recognized that, "Before a Special Forces Green Beret soldier could become a good ''un''conventional soldier, he'd first have to be a good conventional one... Because I had commanded rifle and weapons companies, I was appalled on arriving in Special Forces to find officers who had never commanded conventional units."{{sfn|Beckwith|Knox|Mobley|2000|p=52}} Beckwith restructured [[7th Special Forces Group (United States)|7th]]'s training, basically rewriting the book on Army [[special operations]] training from the real-world lessons he had learned with the [[Special Air Service|SAS]]. Beckwith also had learned that a symbol of excellence like a beret had to be earned. Officers were being assigned to Special Forces straight out of [[United States Army War College|war college]] with no prior special ops experience and were given their Green Beret on arrival. Beckwith instituted the hard-nosed and practical training standards that would lend themselves to the birth of the modern [[United States Army Special Forces selection and training|Q-Course]].

In 1965, Beckwith volunteered to return to Vietnam where he was selected to command a high-priority special forces unit [[Project DELTA|Project Delta]] (Operational Detachment B-52).<ref name="2012 induction" /> He used his SAS experience to test and select men for long-range reconnaissance operations in South Vietnam.<ref name="2012 induction" /> Following his promotion to Major, Beckwith led B-52 in the rescue of the besieged Special Forces camp at the [[Siege of Plei Me]],<ref name="2012 induction" /> during which President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] requested to speak to him directly over radio in order to congratulate and encourage him; his iron-fist disciplinarian style of running of the camp is described in detail in [[CBS News]] Journalist [[John Laurence]]'s book "[https://books.google.com/books?id=Em9uAAAAMAAJ The Cat from Hué]".

Beckwith was critically wounded in early 1966 (he took a .50 caliber bullet through his abdomen). It was so bad that medical personnel [[triage]]d him as beyond help for the second time in his military career.{{sfn|Beckwith|Knox|Mobley|2000|p=352}} This time, again, Beckwith made a full recovery and went on to overhaul the Florida Phase of the U.S. Army [[Ranger School]]. Beckwith transformed this phase from a scripted exercise based upon the Army's [[World War II]] experience, into a Vietnam-oriented jungle training regimen.<ref name="2012 induction" />

In 1968, following the [[Tet Offensive]], then-[[Lieutenant Colonel]] Beckwith returned to South Vietnam, taking command of the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry (Airborne), 1st Brigade, [[101st Airborne Division]].<ref name="2012 induction" /> For the nine months that he commanded the 2/327 (“No Slack”), they saw many successes in combat operations, including: [[Huế]], Operation Mingo, Operation Jeb Stuart, Operation Nevada Eagle (clearing the Huế-Phu Bai area), and Somerset Plain (sweeping the southern portion of the [[A Shau Valley]]).<ref name="2012 induction" /> The toughest job the battalion had was clearing a seven kilometer stretch along Route 547, running west of Huế, eventually defeating the determined [[Vietnam People's Army|NVA]] defenders so that [[Firebase Bastogne|Fire Support Base Bastogne]] could be established.

From 1973 to 1974, Beckwith served as commander, Control Team "B" with the [[Joint Casualty Resolution Center]] (JCRC) located at RTAFB Nakhon Phanom, Thailand.<ref name="2012 induction" /> Under the Command of [[Brigadier General (United States)|BG]] Robert C. Kingston, USA, JCRC's sole mission was to assist the Secretaries of the Armed Services to resolve the fate of servicemen still missing and unaccounted for as a result of the hostilities throughout Indochina.<ref name="2012 induction" /> JCRC had a predominantly operational role—the carrying out of field search, excavation, recovery, and repatriation activities. He was promoted to [[colonel]] and in 1975 returned to [[Fort Bragg, North Carolina]] as the Commandant of the U.S. Army Special Warfare School.<ref name="2012 induction" />

===Delta Force===
[[File:Charlie Beckwith.jpg|thumb|right|Charles Beckwith in 1980|240px]]
Although Beckwith had presented proposals throughout the 1960s for a superbly elite, highly autonomous [[Direct action (military)|direct-action]] unit, the idea had sat on the shelf for a decade. Finally, in the mid-'70s, as the threat of international terrorism became imminent, Beckwith was appointed to form his unit. During the time Beckwith was forming his unit, counter-terrorism duties fell to the [[United States Army Special Forces|special forces]] community. The [[5th Special Forces Group (United States)|5th Special Forces Group]] quickly formed the counter-terrorism unit [[Blue Light (counter-terrorist subunit)|Blue Light]] to fill in until Delta was fully operational.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ian D'Costa|title=This long-forgotten unit was the direct predecessor to Delta Force|url=https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-long-forgotten-unit-was-the-direct-predecessor-to-delta-force|website=wearethemighty.com|date=3 August 2020|access-date=19 October 2020|archive-date=22 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022053400/https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-long-forgotten-unit-was-the-direct-predecessor-to-delta-force|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Delta Force|1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta]] was then established on 17 November 1977, by Beckwith and Colonel Thomas M. Henry, as a [[counterterrorism]] unit based on the model of the British [[Special Air Service]], but with a greater focus on [[hostage]] rescue in addition to covert operations and specialized [[reconnaissance]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goolsby|first1=Denise|title=Palm Springs man was Army Delta Force co-creator|url=http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2016/07/14/palm-springs-col-tom-henry-us-army-delta-force-army-rangers/86963120/|work=[[The Desert Sun]]|date=14 July 2016|access-date=18 July 2016|archive-date=20 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720024352/https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2016/07/14/palm-springs-col-tom-henry-us-army-delta-force-army-rangers/86963120/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Beckwith led Delta Force's first mission, [[Operation Eagle Claw]], the assault on the captured American embassy in [[Tehran, Iran]] early in 1980. The mission was aborted due to helicopter failures during a [[sandstorm]] and a subsequent crash which led to several deaths. After the 'debacle in the desert,' the [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (United States)|160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment]] was formed to provide aviation support to Delta Force and other special operations units. [[JSOC]] was also formed, directly based on Beckwith's recommendations during Senate investigations into the mission's failure.{{sfn|Beckwith|Knox|Mobley|2000}}<ref name="2012 induction" />

==Personal life==
Beckwith was married to Katherine Beckwith, and they had three daughters.<ref name="nytobit"/> One of his daughters, Constance "Connie" Howe, is a former [[United States Army Reserve]] major and married to Delta Force Master Sergeant [[Paul R. Howe]], who fought in the [[Battle of Mogadishu (1993)|Battle of Mogadishu]] in 1993.

His granddaughter, [[United States Air Force]] Technical Sergeant Mary Howe (now Daniell), is an aerial gunner of [[4th Special Operations Squadron]] and the daughter of Paul R. Howe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Living a Legacy |url=https://www.hurlburt.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000032600/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=www.hurlburt.af.mil}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bryant |first=Paul |date=2013-07-11 |title=Woman continues Howes' military tradition |url=https://www.dailysentinel.com/woman-continues-howes-military-tradition/article_17064340-ea9a-11e2-acd8-0019bb2963f4.html |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=The Daily Sentinel |language=en}}</ref> A second daughter, Margaret, married Mike Kazmierski, a [[United States Military Academy|West Point]] graduate and she served as an army captain in the [[United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps|Judge Advocate Generals Corps (JAG)]] and her son Zackery Aaron Kazmierski graduated from West Point in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2016 |title=Obituary Katherine Beckwith Gates |url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/nacogdoches-tx/katherine-beckwith-7065117 |access-date=September 21, 2024 |website=Dignity Memorial}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Amanda Victoria Cruz and Zackery Aaron Kazmierski's Wedding Website |url=https://www.zola.com/wedding/zackery-amanda |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=www.zola.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Kazmierski - Council for a Better Nevada |url=http://www.cbnonline.org/board-of-directors/mike-kazmierski |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=www.cbnonline.org |language=en}}</ref>

==Later life and death==
Following his disappointment at the failure of the [[Operation Eagle Claw|Iranian operation]], Beckwith retired from the Army. He started a consulting firm and wrote a book about Delta Force.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Beckwith |first1=Charlie A. |last2=Knox |first2=Donald |title=Delta Force |date=1983 |publisher=Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers |location=San Diego |isbn=0151246572 |edition=First}}</ref> In 1994, he died at his home of natural causes.<ref name="nytobit">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/14/obituaries/col-charlie-beckwith-65-dies-led-failed-rescue-effort-in-iran.html | work=The New York Times | title=Col. Charlie Beckwith, 65, Dies; Led Failed Rescue Effort in Iran | date=14 June 1994 | access-date=28 April 2010 | archive-date=9 June 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609225205/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/14/obituaries/col-charlie-beckwith-65-dies-led-failed-rescue-effort-in-iran.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

Beckwith's remains are interred in the [[Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery]], [[San Antonio, Texas]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7-DgDAAAQBAJ&dq=Fort+Sam+Houston+National+Cemetery+charles+beckwith&pg=PA51 |title=''Resting Places'' |isbn=9780786479924 |access-date=22 June 2020 |archive-date=24 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124012053/https://books.google.ca/books?id=7-DgDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=Fort+Sam+Houston+National+Cemetery+charles+beckwith&source=bl&ots=6VTEJFyr4M&sig=ACfU3U1sc2RhumG3XPFxjXNfWbSBBGb9Bw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwis2fyEw5bqAhXTUs0KHRPKAfYQ6AEwB3oECAwQAQ#v=onepage&q=Fort%20Sam%20Houston%20National%20Cemetery%20charles%20beckwith&f=false |url-status=live |last1=Wilson |first1=Scott |date=22 August 2016 |publisher=McFarland }}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
Beckwith's awards include:<ref name="2012 induction" /><ref name=COLBeckwith>{{cite web|title=Beckwith, Charles Alvin, COL|url=https://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=144248|website=army.togetherweserved.com|access-date=15 November 2020|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112191648/https://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=144248|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{col-begin|colwidth=auto}}
{{col-break}}

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="12"|[[File:CIB2.svg|235px]]
|-
|colspan="6"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-leaf|ribbon=Silver Star Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-leaf|name=Legion of Merit ribbon|width=106}}[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:"V" device, brass.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-leaf|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[File:Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|106px]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean_Service_Medal_-_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expedtionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Arrowhead device.svg|24px]][[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]]
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]][[File:Silver-service-star-3d.svg|18px]]
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Army_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=|type=award-star|other_device=|ribbon=Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with palm.svg|width=106}}
|-
|[[File:United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|106px]]
|[[Image:Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg|106px]]
|[[File:Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|106px]]
|[[File:Republic of Korea War Service Medal ribbon.svg|106px]]
|-
|colspan="4"|[[File:British Army SAS Parachute Badge with Wings.png|120px]]
|-
| colspan="4"|[[File:ViPaBa.jpg|150px]] [[File:US Army Airborne master parachutist badge.gif|120px]]
|-
| colspan="4"|[[File:Einzelbild Special Forces (Special Forces Insignia).svg|125px]] [[File:Ranger Tab.svg|105px]]
|-
| colspan="6"|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| colspan="6"|[[File:Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam (Army sized).png|106px]] {{ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|other_device=|ribbon=Gallantry_Cross_Unit_Citation.png|width=106}} [[File:Civil Action Unit Citation.png|106px]]
|}

{{col-break|gap=2em}}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
!Badge
|colspan="12"|[[Combat Infantryman Badge]] {{small|with Star (denoting 2nd award)}}
|-
!1st row
|colspan="4"|[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]
|colspan="4"|[[Silver Star]] {{small|with 1 [[Oak leaf cluster]]}}
|colspan="4"|[[Legion of Merit]] {{small|with 2 [[Oak leaf cluster]]s}}
|-
!2nd row
|colspan="3"|[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
|colspan="3"|[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] {{small|with [["V" device]] and 3 [[Oak leaf cluster]]s}}
|colspan="3"|[[Purple Heart]]
|colspan="3"|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]
|-
!3rd row
|colspan="3"|[[Air Medal]] {{small|with 2 [[Oak leaf cluster]]s}}
|colspan="3"|[[Commendation Medal|Army Commendation Medal]] {{small|with 1 [[Oak leaf cluster]]}}
|colspan="3"|[[National Defense Service Medal]] {{small|with 1 [[Service star]]}}
|colspan="3"|[[Korean Service Medal]] {{small|with 2 [[Campaign star]]s}}
|-
!4th row
|colspan="3"|[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]] {{small|with [[Arrowhead device]] and 3 [[Campaign star]]s}}
|colspan="3"|[[Vietnam Service Medal]] {{small|with 1 silver and 1 bronze [[Campaign star]]s}}
|colspan="3"|[[Army Service Ribbon]]
|colspan="3"|[[Gallantry Cross (South Vietnam)|Vietnamese Gallantry Cross]] {{small|with palm}}
|-
!5th row
|colspan="3"|[[United Nations Korea Medal]]
|colspan="3"|[[Armed Forces Honor Medal|Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal]] {{small|First Class}}
|colspan="3"|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
|colspan="3"|[[Korean War Service Medal]]
|-
!Badges
|colspan="4"|[[Parachutist badge#Examples of other parachutist badges from around the world|United Kingdom Parachutist badge]]
|colspan="4"|[[Parachutist badge#Examples of other parachutist badges from around the world|South Vietnamese Parachutist badge]]
|colspan="4"|[[Parachutist Badge (United States)#Master Parachutist Badge|Master Parachutist Badge]]
|-
!Tabs
|colspan="6"|[[Special Forces Tab]]
|colspan="6"|[[Ranger Tab]]
|-
!Unit awards
|colspan="4"|[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]] {{small|with 1 [[Oak leaf cluster]]}}
|colspan="4"|[[Valorous Unit Award]]
|colspan="4"|[[Meritorious Unit Commendation]]
|-
!Unit awards
|colspan="4"|[[Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation]]
|colspan="4"|[[Gallantry Cross (South Vietnam)|Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation]]
|colspan="4"|[[Civil Actions Medal|Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation]]
|}

{{col-end}}
===Other decorations===
* Beckwith also earned 8 [[Overseas Service Bar]]s, the [[Expert Infantryman Badge]], the [[United States Army Special Forces|Special Forces]] [[Distinctive unit insignia]], [[Combat Service Identification Badge]]s from the [[101st Airborne Division]], [[82nd Airborne Division]], [[United States Army Special Forces|Army Special Forces]], and [[Delta Force]].<ref name=COLBeckwith/>

==See also==
* [[Richard J. Meadows|Richard Meadows]]
* [[List of Delta Force members]]

==Citations==
{{Reflist}}

==General and cited references==
* {{Cite book |last1=Beckwith |first1=Charlie A. |last2=Knox |first2=Donald |last3=Mobley |first3=C. A. |date=2000 |title=Delta Force: The Army's Elite Counterterrorist Unit |url=https://archive.org/details/deltaforcearmyse00beck |url-access=registration |location=New York |publisher=Avon Books |isbn=978-0380809394}}

== External links ==
* {{commons category-inline}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beckwith, Charles}}
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:1994 deaths]]
[[Category:Burials at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Delta Force]]
[[Category:Members of the United States Army Special Forces]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Atlanta]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:Special Air Service officers]]
[[Category:United States Army colonels]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:Midtown High School (Atlanta) alumni]]

Edward Almond

2025-10-18T05:09:36Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:D5D6:391C:8D6F:7454: /* Orders, decorations and medals */

{{Short description|United States Army general (1892–1979)}}
{{For|the politician|Edward Almon}}
{{Infobox military person
|birth_name=Edward Mallory Almond
|birth_date=December 12, 1892
|death_date=June 11, 1979 (aged 86)
|birth_place=[[Luray, Virginia]], United States
|death_place=[[San Antonio, Texas]], United States
|placeofburial=[[Arlington National Cemetery]], Virginia, United States
|placeofburial_label=
|image=Edward Almond.jpg
|image_size=
|caption=
|nickname="Ned"
|allegiance={{flagu|United States}}
|branch={{army|United States}}
|serviceyears=1916–1953
|servicenumber=0-4666
|rank=[[File:US-O9 insignia.svg|25px]] [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant general]]
|commands=[[12th Machine Gun Battalion (United States)|12th Machine Gun Battalion]] 3rd Battalion, [[45th Infantry Regiment (United States)|45th Infantry Regiment]] [[92nd Infantry Division (United States)|92nd Infantry Division]] [[2nd Infantry Division (United States)|2nd Infantry Division]] [[X Corps (United States)|X Corps]] [[United States Army War College]]
|unit=[[File:USA - Army Infantry Insignia.png|25px]] [[Infantry Branch (United States)|Infantry Branch]]
|battles=[[World War I]] [[World War II]] [[Korean War]]
|awards=[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] (2) [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (2) [[Silver Star]] (2) [[Purple Heart]] [[Order of Military Merit (South Korea)|Eulji Order of Military Merit]] (2)
|laterwork=
}}

'''Edward Mallory Almond''' (December 12, 1892 – June 11, 1979) was a senior [[United States Army]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] who fought in [[World War I]], [[World War II]], where he commanded the [[92nd Infantry Division (United States)|92nd Infantry Division]], and the [[Korean War]], where he commanded the [[X Corps (United States)|U.S. X Corps]].

==Early life and education==
Edward Mallory Almond was born on December 12, 1892, in [[Luray, Virginia]].{{sfn|Wintermute|2013|}} He was the first son of Walter, a farm equipment salesman, and Grace Popham Almond. Another boy, Malcolm, joined the family in 1895, as did a sister, Judy, in 1897.{{sfn|Lynch|2019|p=2}} Young Almond, nicknamed "Ned" by his family, grew up being told stories by his paternal grandmother about the [[American Civil War]]. Almond's maternal grandfather, Thomas Popham, along with his great-uncle, William Barton Mallory, had both served in the [[Confederate States Army|Confederate Army]] during the war. In Almond’s youth there were still many veterans of the Civil War all over Virginia although Almond himself stated in later life that neither his grandparents nor the older people who had been involved spoke much about the conflict.{{sfn|Lynch|2019|p=1−3}} He did note, however, that there seemed to be an undertone of bitterness for having lost the war.{{sfn|Lynch|2019|p=3}}

Of his early years, Michael E. Lynch states:

{{Blockquote|Almond grew up in the “[[Jim Crow laws|Jim Crow]]” South, and did not question the status quo. He demonstrated no particularly racist tendencies beyond the societal norms of the day. His racism found expression in the genteel paternalism exhibited by middle-class and upper-class Virginians of the region. Black people lived in the “certain sections” of the towns of his youth, and he generally saw them only in subservient roles working on his grandfather’s farm. Despite the prevailing Jim Crow environment, this limited contact with African-Americans engendered a moderate outlook, shaping Almond’s early years and carrying over into his military career.{{sfn|Lynch|2019|p=3}}}}

Always interested in the military, determined to be a professional soldier, and inspired throughout his life by the words of [[Stonewall Jackson]]'s, "You may be whatever you resolve to be",
{{sfn|Lynch|2019|p=1}} Almond graduated from the [[Virginia Military Institute]] (VMI) in June 1915. He graduated third in a class of sixty-five cadets.{{sfn|Lynch|2019|p=17}} He was later commissioned as a first lieutenant in the [[United States Army]] on 30 November 1916.<ref name="Officers of the United States Army">{{cite web|url=https://www.unithistories.com/officers/US_Army_officers_A01.html#Almond_EM|title=United States Army officer histories|publisher=Unit Histories|access-date=2022-04-23}}</ref> The United States [[American entry into World War I|entered]] [[World War I]] soon afterwards, in April 1917.

==World War I==
Almond served in [[France]] during the latter stages of the war, ending it as a major. He fought in the [[Meuse–Argonne offensive]] of late 1918 as the commander of the 12th Machine Gun Battalion of the [[4th Infantry Division (United States)|4th Division]], commanded then by Major General [[George H. Cameron]]. During his service in France, he was wounded in action and received a [[Silver Star|Silver Star Citation]] (later upgraded to the Silver Star decoration).{{sfn|Taaffe|2016|p=67}}<ref name="Officers of the United States Army" /> Of his being wounded, which occurred in early August 1918, he later wrote:

{{Blockquote|I had just opened a can of corn willy [corned beef] when a shell broke into our midst from across the stream, and although I had my helmet on it penetrated my helmet and the top of my head. My orderly who had brought me my supper was killed by another fragment, and a number of men in my vicinity were wounded also, and a couple killed.{{sfn|Lynch|2019|p=41}}}}

After being relieved from combat in the Meuse–Argonne, Almond's division, the 4th, was transferred to the newly created [[Second United States Army|Second Army]] in mid-October and Almond was preparing his battalion, which he assumed command of on October 1, for a huge new offensive scheduled for November 12, although the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|Armistice with Germany]] brought an end to this plan.{{sfn|Lynch|2019|p=47}} The relatively short campaign in the Meuse−Argonne had cost the 4th Division dearly, with 45 officers being killed and 199 wounded, while another 1,120 enlisted men had been killed with a further 6,024 wounded. Almond's battalion had suffered 190 casualties, 4 of them being officers.{{sfn|Lynch|2019|p=48}} The next few months for Almond and his battalion were spent on occupation duty in Germany.

{{Blockquote|Almond’s experiences in the First World War taught him some enduring lessons about the value of training. War in Europe had changed the US Army a great deal, and Almond experienced much of that change. Almond also began to exhibit some of the professional traits that became the hallmarks of his career: aggressiveness, loyalty, and commitment to his mission. Almond finished the war as a temporary major, having been awarded a citation and a wound badge. When the War Department revised the awards system in the 1930s, the Silver Star replaced the citation and the Purple Heart replaced the wound badge. He had shown personal courage and aggressiveness and demonstrated tactical initiative that marked him as a bright and capable officer. The coming years saw him develop and mature professionally, and his experience and training helped prepare him for continued service. He would stay in the Army as it demobilized, and in the coming years he would meet and adapt to other challenges.{{sfn|Lynch|2019|p=49}}}}

==Between the wars==
On returning to the United States after the war, Almond taught [[military science]] at [[Marion Military Institute]] from 1919 to 1924.<ref name="Officers of the United States Army" /> He then attended the [[United States Army Infantry School]] at [[Fort Benning]] in Georgia after which he resumed teaching at Marion until 1928.{{sfn|Wintermute|2013|}} He also taught at the Infantry School at Fort Benning, becoming acquainted with [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[George C. Marshall]], the assistant commandant of the school.{{sfn|Taaffe|2016|p=67}}

In 1930, Almond graduated from the [[United States Army Command and General Staff College|Command and General Staff School]] at [[Fort Leavenworth]] in [[Kansas]]. After a tour of duty in [[Philippines]], where he commanded a battalion of [[Philippine Scouts]],{{sfn|Taaffe|2016|p=67}} he attended the [[United States Army War College|Army War College]] in 1934 after which he was attached to the [[Military Intelligence|Intelligence Division]] of the [[General Staff]] for four years. Having been promoted to lieutenant colonel on September 1, 1938,<ref name="Generals of World War II">{{cite web|url=https://generals.dk/general/Almond/Edward_Mallory/USA.html|title=Biography of Lieutenant General Edward Mallory Almond (1892−1979), USA|website=generals.dk}}</ref>{{sfn|Wintermute|2013|}} he attended the Army War College, Air Corps Tactical School,{{sfn|Taaffe|2016|p=67}} and finally the [[Naval War College]], from which he graduated in 1940. Almond was then assigned to [[Staff (military)|staff]] duty at [[VI Corps (United States)|VI Corps HQ]], [[Providence, Rhode Island]],{{sfn|Wintermute|2013|}} receiving a promotion to the temporary rank of [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] on October 14, 1941.<ref name="Generals of World War II"/>

==World War II==
[[File:Maj. Gen. Edward M. Almond, Commanding General of the 92nd Infantry (`Buffalo') Division in Italy, inspects his troops during a decoration ceremony.jpg|thumb|left|Major General Edward Almond, commander of the [[92nd Infantry Division (United States)|92nd Infantry Division]] in Italy, inspects his troops during a decoration ceremony, March 1945.]]

Soon after the American entry into [[World War II]], in December 1941, Almond was promoted to [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] on March 15, 1942<ref name="Generals of World War II"/><ref name="Officers of the United States Army" /> and was named [[assistant division commander]] (ADC) of the [[93rd Infantry Division (United States)|93rd Infantry Division]], a newly raised [[African-American]] formation, commanded at the time by Major General [[Charles P. Hall]], and which was then based in Arizona.{{sfn|Lynch|2019|p=94−95}}

Almond was for a time highly regarded by George C. Marshall, also a VMI graduate, who was now [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Army Chief of Staff]]. This regard accounted in part for Almond's promotion to major general, on September 23,<ref name="Generals of World War II"/><ref name="Officers of the United States Army" /> ahead of most of his peers and subsequent command of the [[92nd Infantry Division (United States)|92nd Infantry Division]], made of almost exclusively African-American soldiers, a position he held from its formation in October 1942 until August 1945. Almond, surprised to be given such an assignment, in later years speculated why he was selected for command of the 92nd, stating:

{{Blockquote|I think that General Marshall felt that General [Charles P.] Hall, who was in command of the Ninety-third Division when I was [his] Assistant Division Commander and [Hall] was from Mississippi, understood the character of the Negro and his habits and inclinations. The artilleryman at that time was General William Spence from North Carolina as I recall, who also had that understanding of Southern customs and Negro capabilities; the attitudes of Negroes in relationships thereto. I think that my selection for the Ninety-third and Ninety- second Divisions was of the same character.{{sfn|Lynch|2019|p=104}}}}

He led the division during its training in the United States and in combat in the final phases of the [[Italian campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign of 1944–1945]]. During its time in Italy the division, arriving piecemeal throughout the latter half of 1944, underwent several changes in its organization, and suffered a total of almost 3,000 casualties during the often bitter Italian fighting, all while forming part of the [[United States Army North|U.S. Fifth Army]] under Lieutenant General [[Mark W. Clark]] and later [[Lucian Truscott]].{{sfn|Taaffe|2016|pp=67–68}}

[[File:Il Generale Almond in Piazza della Vittoria a Genova nel corso della parata della Vittoria. Maggio 1945.jpg|thumb|right|Major General Edward Almond, commander of the 92nd Division, during the Victory parade in [[Genoa]], [[Italy]], May 1945.]]

Although Marshall picked Almond for this assignment because Marshall believed Almond would excel at this difficult assignment, the division performed poorly in combat with Almond blaming the division's poor performance on its largely African-American troops, echoing the widespread prejudice in the [[Racial segregation in the United States|segregated Army]] that blacks made poor soldiers<ref name=Blair>{{cite book |author-link=Clay Blair |first=Clay |last=Blair |title=The Forgotten War |location=[[New York City|New York]] |publisher=[[Times Books]] |year=1987 |pages=32, 572}}</ref>—and went on to advise the Army against ever again using African-Americans as [[combat troops]].{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} Almond told confidants that the division's poor combat record had cheated him of higher command.{{sfn|Halberstam|2007|pp=161–162}}

{{quotation|No white man wants to be accused of leaving the battle line. The Negro doesn't care.... people think being from the South we don't like Negroes. Not at all, but we understand his capabilities. And we don't want to sit at the table with them.|Edward Almond<ref>{{cite book|last1=Atkinson|first1=Rick|title=The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943–1944 (The Liberation Trilogy Book 2)|date=2 October 2007|publisher=Henry Holt and Co|location=New York}}</ref>}}

==Occupation duty in Japan==
In 1946 Almond was transferred to [[Tokyo]] as chief of personnel at General [[Douglas MacArthur]]'s headquarters, normally a dead-end job. Almond very effectively handled the sizable challenge of staffing the [[Occupation of Japan|occupation forces in Japan]] as American forces rapidly demobilized, standing out among MacArthur's lackluster staff. Having won MacArthur's confidence as capable and loyal,{{sfn|Fehrenbach|1998|pp=163}} Almond was the logical choice to become Chief of Staff in January 1949, when the incumbent, [[Paul J. Mueller]], rotated home.<ref name=Blair/>

==Korean War and X Corps==
[[File:Brigadier General Courtney Whitney; General Douglas MacArthur, Commander in Chief of U.N. Forces; and Major General Edward Almond, observe the shelling of Inchon from the U.S.S. Mt. McKinley, September 15, 1950. - NARA - 531373.gif|thumb|left|Brigadier General [[Courtney Whitney]]; General [[Douglas MacArthur]], Commander in Chief of U.N. Forces; and Major General Edward Almond, observe the shelling of Inchon from the [[USS Mount McKinley|U.S.S. Mt. McKinley]], September 15, 1950.]]

After the initial North Korean attack in June 1950, United Nations forces were forced to withdraw and eventually fell back to the [[Pusan Perimeter]].

MacArthur decided to counterattack with an [[Battle of Inchon|amphibious invasion at Inchon]] in November. The invasion force, consisting of the [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]] and the [[7th Infantry Division (United States)|7th Infantry Division]], was originally named "X Force" and was placed under the command of Almond. Because the name X Force was confusing to logistics officers, upon Almond's suggestion, the formation was re-designated as [[X Corps (United States)|X Corps]]. MacArthur split X Corps from the [[Eighth United States Army|8th Army]], then placed Almond, who had no experience with amphibious operations, in command of the main landing force just before the landings.

Almond earned the scorn of [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]] officers when, during the early phase of the Inchon landing, he asked if the [[amphibious tractor]]s used to land the Marines could float.<ref name=Coram207and213>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ka05AQAAQBAJ |pages=207, 213 |title=Brute: The Life of Victor Krulak, U.S. Marine  |first=Robert |last=Coram |edition=illustrated |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-0316758468 |access-date=2011-01-05}}</ref> The invasion succeeded, but Almond did not pursue effectively and most of the routed [[North Korean Army]] escaped northwards.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

During this time, Major General [[Oliver Prince Smith|O. P. Smith]],<ref name=Coram207and213/> commander of the 1st Marine Division, which was part of X Corps (and therefore under Almond's overall command) from October until December 1950 had many conflicts with Almond.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

Almond also had a poor relationship with Lieutenant General [[Walton Walker]], commander of the 8th Army, and “his singularly unfortunate rivalry with Walker left an indelible stamp on what happened” in Korea.{{sfn|Halberstam|2007|pp=214}}

[[File:Col. Edward H. Forney receiving Legion of Merit by MG Ned Almond.jpg|thumb|right|Colonel [[Edward H. Forney]], Deputy Chief of Staff of X Corps, receiving the [[Legion of Merit]] by Major General Edward Almond, commander of X Corps, for his part in the [[Hungnam evacuation]] in December 1950.]]

Historians have criticized Almond for the wide dispersal of his units during the X Corps advance into north-eastern part of [[North Korea]], in November–December 1950. This dispersal contributed to the defeat of X Corps by [[People's Volunteer Army|Chinese troops]], including the destruction of [[Task Force Faith]], and the narrow escape of the Marines at the [[Battle of Chosin Reservoir]].{{sfn|Halberstam|2007|pp=161–162}} Almond was slow to recognize the scale of the Chinese attack on X Corps, urging Army and Marine units forward despite the huge Chinese forces arrayed against them. Displaying his usual reckless boldness, he underestimated the strength and skill of the Chinese forces, at one point telling his subordinate officers "The enemy who is delaying you for the moment is nothing more than remnants of Chinese divisions fleeing north. We're still attacking and we're going all the way to the [[Yalu River|Yalu]]. Don't let a bunch of [[Chinese laundry]]men stop you." As stated by a close associate: "When it paid to be aggressive, Ned was aggressive. When it paid to be cautious, Ned was aggressive."<ref name=Blair/>

Despite these mistakes and partly due to his close relationship with MacArthur, the new Eighth Army commander Lieutenant General [[Matthew Ridgway]], who became the commander of the 8th Army following the death of Walker in December 1950, retained Almond as commander of X Corps. Ridgway admired Almond's aggressive attitude, but felt he needed close supervision to ensure his boldness did not jeopardize his command. Almond and X Corps later took part in the defeat of the Chinese offensives during February and March 1951, as well as the Eighth Army's counter-offensive, [[Operation Killer]].<ref name=Blair/> Almond was promoted to Lieutenant general in February 1951.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/emalmond.htm|title=Edward Mallory Almond - Lieutenant General, United States Army|first=Michael Robert|last=Patterson|date=December 3, 2022|access-date=December 6, 2022|archive-date=March 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314020613/https://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/emalmond.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Future general and secretary of state [[Alexander Haig]] served as aide-de-camp to Almond in the Korean War.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/finding-aids/alexander-m-haig-jr-white-house-special-files-staff-member-and-office-files|title=Alexander M. Haig, Jr. (White House Special Files: Staff Member and Office Files) |website= Richard Nixon Museum and Library}}</ref>

==Post Korea==
[[File:ANCExplorer Edward Almond grave.jpg|thumb|left|The grave of Lieutenant General Edward Almond at [[Arlington National Cemetery]].]]

In July 1951, Almond was reassigned and became [[commandant]] of the [[United States Army War College]].<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2011-01-06 |url=http://carlislebarracks.carlisle.army.mil/about/history.cfm |title=Carlisle Barracks History |publisher=U.S. Army |archive-date=2007-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118155936/http://carlislebarracks.carlisle.army.mil/about/history.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He retired from the Army on 31 January 1953 and worked as an [[insurance]] executive.

In 1956, Almond was a delegate to a pro-segregationist conference where Chief Justice [[Earl Warren]], who wrote the majority opinion for [[Brown v. Board of Education|''Brown v. Board of Education'']], was proclaimed an enemy of the United States. Speakers at the conference claimed that the country was facing a "Marxist-Zionist" takeover and equated desegregation to communism.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kastenberg |first=Joshua |date=2021-03-01 |title=THE CRISIS OF JUNE 2020: THE CASE OF THE RETIRED GENERALS AND ADMIRALS AND THE CLARION CALLS OF THEIR CRITICS IN LEX NON SCRIPTA (HISTORIC) PERSPECTIVE |url=https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nlr/vol99/iss3/3/ |journal=Nebraska Law Review |volume=99 |issue=3 |pages=629-630}}</ref>

General Almond died in 1979, aged 86. He was buried at [[Arlington National Cemetery]], in [[Arlington, Virginia]], near his son, Edward Mallory Almond Jr., a captain in the [[157th Infantry Regiment (United States)|157th Infantry Regiment]], killed in action on March 19, 1945, in France.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgZhbG1vbmQSBmVkd2FyZA--/ |title=Burial Detail: Almond, Edward M. (Section 2, Grave 4937-A) |work= ANC Explorer|publisher=Arlington National Cemetery |id=(Official website)|accessdate=February 27, 2022}}</ref>

== Orders, decorations and medals ==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=Distinguished Service Cross.}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=Distinguished Service Medal.}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=Silver Star.}}
|{{MilAward Ribbon|LOM|x30px}} 
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=Distinguished Flying Cross}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=15|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Mexican Border Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=World War I Victory Medal}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army of Occupation of Germany ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=American Campaign Medal}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean_Service_Medal_-_Ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of Abdon Calderon First Class.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=ETH Order of Solomon BAR.png|width=106|alt=}}
|{{MilAward Ribbon|CBh|x30px}} 
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Croix_de_guerre_1939–1945_stripe_bronsepalme.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{MilAward Ribbon|KOMM|x30px}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Cheon-Su Security Medal Ribbon.png|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Korean Presidential Unit Citation.png|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] with Oak Leaf Cluster
|-
|[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Distinguished Service Medal]] with Oak Leaf Cluster
|[[Silver Star]] with Oak Leaf Cluster
|[[Legion of Merit]]
|-
|[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
|[[Bronze Star]] with "V" device and Oak Leaf Cluster
|[[Air Medal]] with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters
|-
|[[Commendation Medal#Army|Army Commendation Medal]] with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
|[[Purple Heart]]
|[[Mexican Border Service Medal]]
|-
|[[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]]
|[[Army of Occupation of Germany Medal]]
|[[American Defense Service Medal]]
|-
|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|[[European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]] w/ 3 Campaign Stars
|[[World War II Victory Medal]]
|-
|[[Army of Occupation Medal]] with "Japan" Clasp
|[[National Defense Service Medal]]
|[[Korean Service Medal]] with 4 Campaign Stars
|-
|[[Order of Abdon Calderón]] 1st Class ([[Ecuador]])
|[[Order of Solomon]] ([[Ethiopian Empire]])
|[[Order of the Bath|Honorary Companion of the Order of the Bath]] ([[United Kingdom]])
|-
|[[Legion of Honour|Commander, Legion of Honor]] ([[France]])
|[[Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France)|Croix de guerre 1939–1945]] with palm (France)
|[[Order of Military Merit (Brazil)|Order of Military Merit]] ([[Brazil]])
|-
|[[Order of National Security Merit (Korea)|Cheon-Su National Security Medal]] ([[South Korea]])
|[[Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation|Presidential Unit Citation]] (South Korea)
|[[United Nations Korea Medal|United Nations Medal for Korea]]
|}

===1st Distinguished Service Cross citation===
General Headquarters Far East Command: General Orders No. 43 (October 23, 1950)

CITATION:
<blockquote>
The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major General Edward M. Almond (ASN: 0-466), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding General of X Corps. Major General Almond distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea during the period from 15 to 25 September 1950. During the seizure of Inchon, General Almond personally visited front line units, coordinated tactical efforts, and by his own fearless example aided them in seizing assigned objectives. Following the fall of Inchon, General Almond personally led his troops in their rapid drive through enemy-held territory to seize Seoul, and to speed the disintegration of the enemy forces. During the assault of the Han River, he moved to a forward position well beyond the line of friendly forces to observe and control the river crossing. Despite heavy enemy mortar fire directed at him, General Almond remained to supervise the air and artillery support which was protecting the first units of the Seventh Infantry Division crossing the river. Disregarding enemy mine fields and sniper fire, he proceeded to the crossing site to direct fire of amphibious tanks neutralizing enemy opposition which was impeding our crossing. By his inspirational leadership, his complete indifference to danger, and personal control of the battlefield, General Almond quickly concluded tactical operations which destroyed the enemy forces in the X Corps zone of action and saved countless lives in the forces under his command.</blockquote>

===2nd Distinguished Service Cross citation===
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 362 (May 28, 1951)

CITATION:
<blockquote>
The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant General Edward M. Almond (ASN: 0-466), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding General, X Corps. Lieutenant General Almond distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces during the massive offensive by three known Communist Armies against the X Corps, during the period from 16 through 25 May 1951. General Almond personally directed the historic defense which contained this attack and resulted in crushing losses in enemy manpower and materiel. During this period General Almond distinguished himself by countless acts of individual heroism as well as providing the inspiration, leadership and tactical skill which contributed materially the success of this operation. On 19 May 1951, while reconnoitering enemy positions in a light aircraft, he observed 250 enemy at a point forward of a friendly tank patrol. General Almond landed his plane by the tank column and sent the tank platoon leader in his aide's plane to observe the enemy group. While with the tank column the enemy set up a machine gun within 500 yards of his position. Without regard for hostile fire from this gun, he directed tank fire which silenced the weapon. The tank platoon went on to destroy the 250 enemy. On 21 May 1951, General Almond made an aerial reconnaissance before a tank column operating at Soksa-ri, Korea. While flying low over this area, General Almond received intense automatic-weapons fire. Again, without regard for personal safety, he located these weapons and personally directed their destruction. Again on 25 May 1951, he made four flights in an unarmed light plane through the enemy-held mountain pass between Hangye and the Umyang bridgehead on the Seyang River. Despite intense enemy small-arms and friendly artillery fire, he returned time and again to insure proper command and liaison between friendly forces operating at both ends of the pass. These specific acts, as well as countless visits to forward-most command posts, provided the inspiration and forceful leadership essential at this critical time.</blockquote>

==In popular culture==
{{in popular culture|date=February 2022}}
* In the novel series [[The Corps Series|''The Corps'']], General Almond is mentioned in the last two books: ''Under Fire'' and ''Retreat Hell!'' Almond is portrayed by the author (who served under Almond in the Korean War) in a positive light.
* In [[James McBride (writer)|James McBride]]'s 2002 novel ''Miracle at St. Anna'', the commanding general of the 92nd Infantry Division, General Allman, is based on Almond.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}
* In the 2008 [[Spike Lee]] film ''[[Miracle at St. Anna]]'', Almond is portrayed by [[Robert John Burke]].{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}
* In [[Victor H. Krulak]]'s 1984 novel ''First To Fight'', Almond is critiqued by retired Lieutenant General of the Marine Corps and author of the book, Victor H. Krulak, who served alongside Almond's counterpart, Lieutenant General Shepard {{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last=Blair|first=Clay|year=1987|title=The Forgotten War: America in Korea: 1950–1953|publisher=Times Books|location=New York|isbn=0-8129-1670-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Fehrenbach|first=T.R.|year=1998|orig-year=1963|title=This Kind of War|publisher=Brassey's|location=Dulles, Virginia|isbn=1-57488-259-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Halberstam|first=David|year=2007|title=The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War|publisher=Hyperion|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4013-0052-4|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/coldestwinterame00halb}}
* {{cite book|last=Lynch |first=Michael |date=2019 |title=Edward M. Almond and the US Army: From the 92nd Infantry Division to the X Corps |place=Lexington |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |isbn=978-0813177984}}
* {{cite book|last = Russ|first = Martin|year =1999|title=Breakout: The Chosin Reservoir Campaign, Korea, 1950|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=0-14-029259-4}}
* {{cite book|title=MacArthur's Korean War Generals|last=Taaffe|first=Stephen R.|year=2016|publisher=University Press of Kansas|location=Lawrence, Kansas|isbn=978-0-7006-2221-4}}
* {{cite book|editor-last=Bielakowski|editor-first=Alexander M.|last=Wintermute|first=Bobby A.|year=2013|chapter=Almond, Edward M.|title=Ethnic and Racial Minorities in the U.S. Military [2 volumes]: An Encyclopedia|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1598844276|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w_Mqj6UuRgQC&q=Edward+Almond+marion+military+institute&pg=PT32}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Edward Almond}}
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/emalmond.htm |title=Edward Mallory Almond |date=6 November 2022 |publisher=at ArlingtonCemetery.net |id=(Unofficial website) |access-date=4 February 2006 |archive-date=15 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215024401/http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/emalmond.htm |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite journal | last = Wilson | first = Dale E. | title = Recipe for Failure: Major General Edward M. Almond and Preparation of the U.S. 92d Infantry Division for Combat in World War II, ''The Journal of Military History'', Vol. 56, No. 3 (Jul 1992) | journal = The Journal of Military History | volume = 56 | issue = 3 | pages = 473–488 | jstor = 1985973 | year = 1992 | doi = 10.2307/1985973 }}
{{Refend}}
*[https://generals.dk/general/Almond/Edward_Mallory/USA.html Generals of World War II]
*[https://www.unithistories.com/officers/US_Army_officers_A01.html#Almond_EM United States Army Officers 1939–1945]

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=Newly activated organization}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[92nd Infantry Division (United States)|Commanding General 92nd Infantry Division]]|years=1942–1945}}
{{s-aft|after=Post deactivated}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[William Kelly Harrison Jr.]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[2nd Infantry Division (United States)|Commanding General 2nd Infantry Division]]|years=1945–1946}}
{{s-aft|after=Post deactivated}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Newly activated organization}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[X Corps (United States)|Commanding General X Corps]]|years=1950–1951}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Clovis E. Byers]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Joseph May Swing|Joseph M. Swing]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States Army War College|Commandant of the United States Army War College]]|years=1951–1953}}
{{s-aft|after=[[James Edward Moore|James E. Moore]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Almond, Edward}}

== External links ==

{{commons category|Edward Almond}}

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[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
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[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
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[[Category:Commanders of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Military Merit (Brazil)]]
[[Category:Order of National Security Merit members]]
[[Category:Virginia Military Institute alumni]]
[[Category:Air Corps Tactical School alumni]]
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[[Category:United States Army generals of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:Recipients of orders, decorations, and medals of Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Neo-Confederates]]

William F. Garrison

2025-10-18T04:22:52Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:D5D6:391C:8D6F:7454: /* Military awards */

{{Short description|United States Army general (born 1944)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=April 2010}}
{{More footnotes|date=April 2010}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = William F. Garrison
| image = William F Garrison.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| nickname = "Bill"
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1944|06|27}}
| birth_place = [[Mineral Wells, Texas]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| placeofburial =
| allegiance = United States
| branch = [[United States Army]]
| serviceyears = 1966–1996
| rank = [[Major general (United States)|Major general]]
| unit =
| commands = [[John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center]] (1995–96) [[Joint Special Operations Command]] (1992–94) [[Delta Force]] (1985–89) 1st Battalion, [[505th Infantry Regiment (United States)|505th Infantry Regiment]] (1981–83)
| battles = {{tree list}}
* [[Vietnam War]]
** [[Phoenix Program]]
* [[Somali Civil War]]
** [[United Nations Operation in Somalia II]]
*** [[Operation Gothic Serpent]]
**** [[Battle of Mogadishu (1993)|Battle of Mogadishu]]
{{tree list/end}}
| awards = [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] [[Legion of Merit]] [[Bronze Star Medal]] (4) [[Purple Heart]]
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
'''William F. Garrison''' (born 27 June 1944) is a retired American [[major general]] who commanded the United States forces during [[Operation Gothic Serpent]], the military operation launched during the [[Somali Civil War]] in 1993 to capture Somali warlord [[Mohamed Farrah Aidid]].

==Early life and education==
Garrison was born in [[Mineral Wells, Texas]], on 27 June 1944. He earned his [[Bachelor of Business Administration]] degree from [[University of Texas–Pan American]]. Garrison enlisted in the [[United States Army]] in 1966.

==Military career==
During the [[Vietnam War]], Garrison participated in the [[Phoenix Program]]. According to [[Mark Bowden]], Garrison "had served two tours in Vietnam, part of it helping to run the infamously brutal Phoenix Program, which ferreted out and killed [[Viet Cong]] village leaders."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bowden|first=Mark|title=Black Hawk Down|publisher=Grove Press|year=1999|location=New York|pages=23}}</ref>

From 1981 to 1983, Garrison commanded the 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry, 82d Airborne Division, at Fort Bragg. In 1982 he led an 808-man task force, TF 1/505, on the first six-month Sinai mission as part of the [[Multinational Force and Observers]], serving as a buffer between Israel and Egypt, and was present when Israel handed over the Sinai to Egypt. Garrison spent most of his career in special operations units, including the [[Intelligence Support Activity]] as the commander of its operations squadron and the [[1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta]] (also known as Delta Force) from 1985 to 1989. His last command was the [[John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center]].

===Operation Gothic Serpent===
Garrison commanded [[Task Force Ranger]] during [[Operation Gothic Serpent]] in Somalia, a military operation conducted in [[Mogadishu]], Somalia, by an American-led coalition during the [[Somali Civil War]] in 1993. The primary objective of the operation was to capture Somali military officer [[Mohamed Farrah Aidid]], who was wanted by the Unified Task Force after his attacks against United Nations troops in 1992. The operation took place from August to October 1993 and was supervised by the United States' [[Joint Special Operations Command]] (JSOC).

The mission culminated in what became known as the [[Battle of Mogadishu (1993)|1993 Battle of Mogadishu]]. Garrison took full responsibility for the tactical setbacks experienced in Operation Gothic Serpent, which effectively ended his military career.

Mark Bowden, the author of ''Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War'', described Garrison as a military ascetic. According to Bowden's description Garrison tirelessly worked to serve his country and would do anything for his soldiers. Some of Garrison's subordinates have also spoken publicly about their former commander. Staff Sergeant Dan Schilling, an [[Air Force Combat Controller]] who took part in Operation Gothic Serpent, shared his feelings about Garrison in the book:

{{Blockquote|text=I should pause here for a moment to say a few words about General Garrison. Many know his record and command history. I'm not the person to expound on his exploits; in fact I don't know the man very well. But I will say he is the finest general officer I have ever worked for and probably ever will. He understood his men and how we thought, what we wanted and needed, and understood the situation anywhere he was, immediately and completely. He is the finest leader an operator could ask for. It was a shame that his career was derailed after our deployment; it was a criminal act committed by political cowards.|title=The Battle of Mogadishu: Firsthand Accounts From The Men of Task Force Ranger|source=Page 187|author=Dan Schilling}}

By September 1996, Garrison had retired at the rank of major general and settled into a ranch near the community of [[Hico, Texas]].

===Military awards===
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="3"|[[File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg]]
|-
|[[File:Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|border|106px]]
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Bronze Star Medal ribbon|width=106}}[[File:"V" device, brass.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-leaf|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[File:Defense_Meritorious_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|106px]]
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]
|-
|[[File:Air Medal ribbon.svg|border|106px]]
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[File:Army Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg|106px]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]]
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Humanitarian Service Medal ribbon|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=numeral|ribbon=Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=MFO Ribbon bar.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnam_gallantry_cross-3d.svg|width=106}}
|[[File:Vietnam Staff Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg|106px]]
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnam_Campaign_Medal_ribbon_with_60-_clasp.svg|width=106}}
|-
|colspan="6"|[[File:Einzelbild Special Forces (Special Forces Insignia).svg|120px]]  [[File:Image4210.gif|100px]][[File:Master Parachutist badge (United States).svg|72px]]
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="12"|[[Combat Infantryman Badge]]
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]
|colspan="4"|[[Legion of Merit]]
|colspan="4"|[[Bronze Star Medal]] with [[Valor device]] and three oak leaf clusters
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Purple Heart]]
|colspan="4"|[[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]]
|colspan="4"|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] with two oak leaf clusters
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Air Medal]]
|colspan="4"|[[Commendation Medal#Army|Army Commendation Medal]] with oak leaf cluster
|colspan="4"|[[Good Conduct Medal (United States)|Army Good Conduct Medal]]
|-
|colspan="4"|[[National Defense Service Medal]] with one bronze [[service star]]
|colspan="4"|[[Vietnam Service Medal]] with four service stars
|colspan="4"|[[Humanitarian Service Medal]]
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Army Service Ribbon]]
|colspan="4"|[[Overseas Service Ribbon#Army|Army Overseas Service Ribbon]]
|colspan="4"|[[Multinational Force and Observers Medal]]
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross]] ''with unidentified device(s)''
|colspan="4"|[[Vietnam Staff Service Medal]], 1st class
|colspan="4"|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
|-
|colspan="6"|[[Special Forces Tab]]
|colspan="6"|[[Parachutist Badge (United States)|Master Parachutist Badge]] with [[Joint Special Operations Command|JSOC]] background trimming
|}

==In popular culture==
* Garrison is portrayed by [[Sam Shepard]] in the film ''[[Black Hawk Down (film)|Black Hawk Down]]'', which was based on the events of the [[Battle of Mogadishu (1993)|Battle of Mogadishu]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [[Mark Bowden|Bowden, Mark]] (March 1999). ''[[Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War]]''. Atlantic Monthly Press. Berkeley, California (U.S.). {{ISBN|0-87113-738-0}}
* Boykin, William (Lt.Gen.) (2008). ''Never Surrender''. Faith Words. New York, New York. {{ISBN|978-0-446-58215-5}}.
* Eversmann, Matthew and Dan Schilling, eds. (2006). ''The Battle of Mogadishu: Firsthand Accounts From The Men of Task Force Ranger''.
* [[Michael Smith (newspaper reporter)|Smith, Michael]] (2006). ''Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team''. Cassell. London. {{ISBN|0-304-36727-3}}
* [[Howard E. Wasdin|Wasdin, Howard E.]] (2011). ''Seal Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper''. St. Martin's Press. New York, New York. {{ISBN|978-0-312-69945-1}}.

==External links==
{{commons cat}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Garrison, William F.}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Texas–Pan American alumni]]
[[Category:Sam Houston State University alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:Battle of Mogadishu (1993)]]
[[Category:Members of the United States Army Special Forces]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Delta Force]]
[[Category:People from Mineral Wells, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Hico, Texas]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Humanitarian Service Medal]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Texas]]

Richard H. Truly

2025-10-18T04:13:26Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:D5D6:391C:8D6F:7454: /* Decorations */

{{Short description|American astronaut and NASA administrator (1937–2024)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Richard Truly
| image = Richard H. Truly - GPN-2002-000090.jpg
| office = 8th [[Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration]]
| president = [[George H. W. Bush]]
| term_start = July 1, 1989
| term_end = March 31, 1992
| predecessor = [[James C. Fletcher]]
| successor = [[Daniel S. Goldin]]
| birth_name = Richard Harrison Truly
| birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date|1937|11|12}}}}
| birth_place = [[Fayette, Mississippi]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|02|27|1937|11|12}}
| death_place = [[Genesee, Colorado]], U.S.
| education = [[Georgia Institute of Technology]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
| branch = {{flag|United States Navy}}
| serviceyears = 1959–1989
| rank = [[Vice admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]]
| commands = [[VF-33|Fighter Squadron 33]]
| mawards = [[Legion of Merit]] [[Defense Superior Service Medal]] [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] [[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]
| module2 = {{Infobox|child=yes|headerstyle=background:lavender;|header1=Astronaut career}}
| module3 = {{Infobox astronaut
|child = yes
|image = Richard H. Truly Official Astronaut Portrait.jpg
|caption = Truly in October 1979
|type = [[NASA astronaut]]
|time = 8d 7h 21m
|selection = [[List of astronauts by selection#1965|USAF MOL Group 1 (1965)]] [[NASA Astronaut Group 7|NASA Group 7 (1969)]]
|mission = [[Approach and Landing Tests|ALT]] [[STS-2]] [[STS-8]]
|insignia = [[File:Enterprise 1977 Approach and Landing Test mission patch.png|40px]] [[Image:Sts-2-patch.png|40px]] [[File:STS-8_patch.png|40px]]
|retirement = May 1992}}
}}

'''Richard Harrison Truly''' (November 12, 1937 – February 27, 2024) was an American [[fighter pilot]], engineer and [[astronaut]] who served as a [[Vice admiral (United States)|vice admiral]] in the [[United States Navy]] and as the eighth [[NASA Administrator|administrator]] of the [[NASA|National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] (NASA) from 1989 to 1992. He was the first former astronaut to head the space agency.

After his departure from NASA, he led the [[Georgia Tech Research Institute]] from 1992 to 1997, and the [[National Renewable Energy Laboratory]] from 1997 to 2005.

==Early life and education==
Born November 12, 1937, in [[Fayette, Mississippi]], Truly attended segregated schools in Fayette and [[Meridian, Mississippi]]. He received a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[Aerospace engineering|aeronautical engineering]] from [[Georgia Institute of Technology]] in 1959. He was a member of the [[Kappa Alpha Order]]. He was active in the [[Boy Scouts of America]], achieving its highest rank of [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]].<ref name="nasa">{{cite web|url=https://history.nasa.gov/Biographies/truly.html|title=NASA Administrator, May 14, 1989 – March 31, 1992|publisher=NASA|access-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>

Being a member of the [[Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps|Navy ROTC]] at Georgia Tech, Truly entered the U.S. Navy, where he was ordered to flight school and was designated a [[Naval Aviator|naval aviator]] on October 7, 1960. His initial tour of duty was in [[VF-33|Fighter Squadron 33]] (VF-33) where he flew [[F-8 Crusader]]s aboard [[USS Intrepid (CVA-11)|USS ''Intrepid'']] and [[USS Enterprise (CVN-65)|USS ''Enterprise'']]. He made more than 300 carrier landings.<ref name=jscbio />

From 1963 to 1965, Truly was first a student and later an instructor at the [[U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School|U.S. Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School]] at [[Edwards Air Force Base]], [[California]].<ref name=jscbio>{{cite web|title=Richard H. Truly (Vice Admiral, USN, RET.) NASA Astronaut (Former)|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/truly_richard.pdf|publisher=[[NASA]]|date=March 1992 |access-date=June 18, 2021}}</ref>

==NASA career==
In 1965, Truly was among the first military astronauts selected to the [[United States Air Force]]'s [[Manned Orbiting Laboratory]] (MOL) program in [[Los Angeles, California]]. He joined [[NASA Astronaut Group 7]] in August 1969 after the cancellation of the MOL program. At NASA, he was a member of the astronaut support crew and [[capsule communicator]] (CAPCOM) for all three of the crewed [[Skylab]] missions in 1973, and the [[Apollo–Soyuz]] mission in 1975. He flew twice on one of the two-man crews for the 1977 [[Approach and Landing Tests]] of the [[Space Shuttle Enterprise|Space Shuttle ''Enterprise'']], and on the [[STS-2]] mission in 1981, becoming the first man to be launched into space on his birthday. Truly then served as commander of [[STS-8]] in 1983.<ref name="nasa"/>

After STS-8, Truly left NASA to become the first commander of the [[Naval Space Command]].<ref name=astroscholar>{{cite web|title=Richard Truly|url=http://astronautscholarship.org/Astronauts/richard-h-truly/|publisher=Astronaut Scholarship Foundation|access-date=November 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28678405/argusleader/|title=Truly Is Named to Lead Naval Space Command|newspaper=Argus-Leader|location=Sioux Falls, South Dakota|page=7|date=September 7, 1983|via=Newspapers.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

{{Quote box|align=center|width=28%|quote=It's tough to describe how hard we all worked on MOL. But it was a huge part of our lives and, because of how hard we worked, we all learned a lot about ourselves and our abilities.|salign=right|source=—Truly, describing his MOL experience.<ref>{{cite web |title=Secret Astronauts – Vice Adm. Richard H. Truly, USN |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/astrospies/prof-07.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218041908/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/astrospies/prof-07.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 18, 2008 |department=Astrospies |work=[[Nova (American TV program)|Nova]] |publisher=[[PBS]]}}</ref>}}

===Return to flight===
Three weeks after the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' disaster]], Truly returned to NASA to become NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Flight on February 20, 1986.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/Biographies/truly.html |title = Richard H. Truly |work=NASA History Division |publisher = NASA|date=February 3, 2003}}</ref> His primary task was to watch over the Space Shuttle's return to flight status. Along with that, he was also responsible for such long term issues as whether or not ''Challenger'' would be replaced, the role the Shuttle would play in the future and the mixture of expendable spacecraft and the shuttle for upcoming missions. While it only took a few days to determine the technical reason for the accident, sorting out the root cause was more difficult. In the end, it took Truly and NASA's "Return to Flight" program 31 months before the Space Shuttle [[Space Shuttle Discovery|''Discovery'']] successfully flew on September 29, 1988, with [[STS-26]]. In March 1986, Truly noted in a memo that there were several actions NASA needed to accomplish before launching another Shuttle flight. They included "Solid Rocket Motor joint redesign, Critical Items review, and Operations and Maintenance Instructions review".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4219/Chapter15.html|title=Return to Flight ... Challenger Accident|work=NASA History|publisher=NASA}}</ref>

===NASA Administrator===
Truly retired from the Navy as a vice admiral shortly before becoming NASA administrator. He was named to head NASA as its eighth [[Administrator of NASA|administrator]] in May 1989, the first astronaut to do so. He held this position until May 1992. He was credited by [[Carl Sagan]] with interceding in an internal dispute regarding whether ''[[Voyager 1]]'' should be commanded to take one last photograph of Earth before completing its primary mission. The resulting photograph has since become known as the ''[[Pale Blue Dot]]'' photograph.<ref>{{cite news |last=Greenfieldboyce |first=Nell |date=February 12, 2010 |title=An Alien View Of Earth |url=https://www.npr.org/2010/02/12/123614938/an-alien-view-of-earth |work=[[All Things Considered]] |publisher=[[NPR]] |access-date=November 5, 2014}}</ref>

On February 12, 1992, Truly was fired as Administrator. Two weeks before, Vice President [[Dan Quayle]] had met with Truly, requesting the Administrator step down and accept an ambassadorship. Truly considered the offer but ultimately declined.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Michael |last=Cassutt |title=The Astronaut Maker: How One Mysterious Engineer Ran Human Spaceflight for a Generation |date=March 3, 2024 |location=Chicago |publisher=Chicago Review Press |page=335 |isbn=9781613737002 |oclc=1005188277}}</ref>

When he was fired, Truly said, "I'm floored. I can't explain it".<ref name=fired>{{cite news |title=Truly Fired as Nasa Chief, Apparently At Quayle Behest |first=Kathy |last=Sawyer |date=February 13, 1992 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1992/02/13/truly-fired-as-nasa-chief-apparently-at-quayle-behest/bc7cc6cc-1799-4435-8550-e879d81dcff1/}}</ref> Senator [[Al Gore]], who would succeed Quayle as vice president a year later, said he was concerned about the move, stating that Truly was "a good man who did a good job under difficult circumstances" and that "I view this as a very troubling sign that ... Quayle's space council may have forced Admiral Truly to leave this job because of the council's insistence on running NASA from the vice president's office."<ref name=fired/>

Observers suggested the firing was due to Truly's focus on large-scale projects like extending the life of the [[Space Shuttle]] rather than smaller, faster missions favored by the administration. It was suggested "that he was captive of his bureaucracy and incapable of making the changes, the reforms, the administration wanted." Others pointed to the battle over the [[International Space Station]], which unexpectedly ran into serious problems in Congress, requiring the administration to intervene to save it.<ref name=fired/>

==Post-NASA activities==
After leaving NASA, Truly became Vice President and Director of the [[Georgia Tech Research Institute]], part of the [[Georgia Institute of Technology]], in [[Atlanta, Georgia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2002-000090.html|work=Great Images In NASA|publisher=NASA|title=Richard H. Truly|access-date=August 23, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621032804/http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2002-000090.html|archive-date=June 21, 2010}}</ref> He served in this role from 1992 to 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gtri.gatech.edu/gtri75/history-makers/vadm-richard-h-truly-usn-ret|title=VADM Richard H. Truly (USN, Ret.)|work=GTRI 75 Years|publisher=[[Georgia Tech Research Institute]]|access-date=August 23, 2010|archive-date=June 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619073118/http://www.gtri.gatech.edu/gtri75/history-makers/vadm-richard-h-truly-usn-ret|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Then he served as director of the [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]]'s [[National Renewable Energy Laboratory]] and as executive vice president of the [[MRIGlobal]] (formerly Midwest Research Institute) from 1997–2005.<ref name="nrel">{{cite web|url=http://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2004/396.html|title=NREL Director Richard Truly Announces Retirement Plans|publisher=National Renewable Energy Laboratory|date=June 8, 2004|access-date=November 5, 2014}}</ref>

In May 2007, Retired Vice Admiral Richard Truly testified before the U.S. [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Senate Committee on Foreign Relations]] as a member of a military advisory board on the subject of the threats to U.S. national security posed by global [[climate change]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://foreign.senate.gov/testimony/2007/TrulyTestimony070509.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527141439/http://foreign.senate.gov/testimony/2007/TrulyTestimony070509.pdf|archive-date=May 27, 2010|title=Testimony of Vice Admiral Richard Truly, USN (Ret.)|publisher=[[United States Senate]]|access-date=August 23, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2010, Truly was appointed to the board of trustees of the [[Colorado School of Mines]] by Governor [[Bill Ritter]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mines.edu/Vice-Admiral-Truly-appointed-to-Mines-Board-of-Trustees |title=Vice Admiral Truly appointed to Mines Board of Trustees |access-date=September 1, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908064331/http://www.mines.edu/Vice-Admiral-Truly-appointed-to-Mines-Board-of-Trustees |archive-date=September 8, 2015 }}</ref> He served as the vice chairman of the board.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://inside.mines.edu/Board_of_Trustees|title = Board of Trustees}}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
Truly was married to Colleen "Cody" Hanner, and had three children.<ref name="nasa" /> He died at his home in [[Genesee, Colorado]], on February 27, 2024, at the age of 86.<ref>{{cite web |title=Richard Truly, shuttle astronaut and NASA administrator, dies at 86 |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-022924a-astronaut-richard-truly-nasa-adminstrator-obituary.html |website=Collect Space |access-date=February 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |id=24-036 |first1=Faith |last1=McKie |first2=Cheryl |last2=Warner |date=February 29, 2024 |title=NASA Honors Life of Former Administrator, Astronaut Richard Truly |publisher=NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-honors-life-of-former-administrator-astronaut-richard-truly/ |access-date=March 1, 2024}}</ref>

==Decorations==
[[Image:Richard Truly, official Navy photograph, 1987.jpg|thumb|right|Official Navy portrait of Richard H. Truly]]
Truly was awarded the following [[Awards and decorations of the United States military|military decorations]] and [[Awards and decorations of the United States government|government awards]]:<ref name=jscbio/><ref name=astroscholar/>

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Presidential Citizens Medal ribbon -vector.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=NasaDisRib.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=NASA Outstanding Leadership Ribbon.png|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=USA - NASA Excep Rib.png|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=SpaceFltRib.svg|width=106}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="3"|[[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]<ref name="nasa" />
|-
|[[Defense Superior Service Medal]]<ref name="nasa" />
|[[Legion of Merit]] with one [[5/16 inch star|star]]<ref name="nasa" />
|[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]<ref name="nasa" />
|-
|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]<ref name="nasa" />
|[[Presidential Citizens Medal]]<ref name="nasa" />
|[[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]] with one star<ref name="nasa" />
|-
|[[NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal]]<ref name="nasa" />
|[[NASA Exceptional Service Medal]] with one star<ref name="nasa" />
|[[NASA Space Flight Medal]] with one star<ref name="nasa" />
|}

In 1988, he was awarded the [[Society of Experimental Test Pilots]] [[James H. Doolittle Award]]. He also received that year the [[Collier Trophy]] for his role in assisting NASA's return to launching crewed missions after the ''Challenger'' disaster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://naa.aero/awards/awards-and-trophies/collier-trophy/collier-1980-1989-winners|title=Collier 1980–1989 Recipients|publisher=[[National Aeronautic Association]]|access-date=November 5, 2014}}</ref> He was awarded the Johnson Space Center Superior Achievement Award in 1972.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23696426/clarionledger/|title=Truly May Give Mississippi its First Space Break|newspaper=Clarion-Ledger|location=Jackson, Mississippi|via=Newspapers.com|page=3|date=November 1, 1981|last1=Pendergrast|first1=Loretta}}</ref> He also received the American Astronautical Society's Flight Achievement Award in 1977.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23696593/corvallis_gazettetimes/|title=Grandfather Truly Got Birthday Blast|newspaper=Corvallis Gazette-Times|date=November 13, 1981|page=6|location=Corvallis, Oregon|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1995, he was inducted into the [[Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Vice Admiral Richard H. Truly|url=http://www.gaaviationhalloffame.com/Hall-of-Fame.48.0.html?avid=89|access-date=October 9, 2018|website=Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602002855/http://www.gaaviationhalloffame.com/Hall-of-Fame.48.0.html?avid=89|archive-date=June 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> He was awarded the General Thomas D. White USAF Space Trophy for 1981.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.airforcemag.com/PDF/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/1997/May%201997/0597recs.pdf |title=The Gen. Thomas D. White USAF Space Trophy |publisher=USAF |magazine=AIR FORCE Magazine |date=May 1997 |page=156 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306030237/https://www.airforcemag.com/PDF/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/1997/May%201997/0597recs.pdf |archive-date=March 6, 2022 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [[List of Eagle Scouts]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Richard Truly}}
*{{C-SPAN|1086}}
*{{imdb name|1036141}}

{{S-start}}
{{s-gov}}
{{Succession box|title=[[List of Administrators and Deputy Administrators of NASA|Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration]]|before=[[James C. Fletcher]]|after=[[Daniel Goldin]]|years=1989–1992}}
{{end}}
{{NASAadmin}}
{{GTRI}}
{{NASA Astronaut Group 7|state=autocollapse}}
{{U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Truly, Richard H}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:Administrators of NASA]]
[[Category:American astronaut-politicians]]
[[Category:American test pilots]]
[[Category:Collier Trophy recipients]]
[[Category:George H. W. Bush administration personnel]]
[[Category:Georgia Tech alumni]]
[[Category:Georgia Tech Research Institute people]]
[[Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering]]
[[Category:People from Fayette, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Presidential Citizens Medal recipients]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School alumni]]
[[Category:United States Astronaut Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:United States Naval Aviators]]
[[Category:United States Navy astronauts]]
[[Category:United States Navy vice admirals]]

USS Leyte Gulf

2025-10-18T00:16:48Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:D5D6:391C:8D6F:7454: Updated page.

{{Short description|Guided missile cruiser of the United States Navy}}
{{for|ships with similar names|USS Leyte}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = File:US Navy 040222-N-8053S-067 The guided missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) is shown underway.jpg
| Ship caption = USS ''Leyte Gulf'' on 22 February 2004
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header =
| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{USN flag|2006}}
| Ship name = ''Leyte Gulf''
| Ship namesake = [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]]
| Ship ordered = 20 June 1983
| Ship awarded =
| Ship builder = [[Ingalls Shipbuilding]]
| Ship original cost =
| Ship yard number =
| Ship way number =
| Ship laid down = 18 March 1985
| Ship launched = 20 June 1986
| Ship sponsor =
| Ship christened =
| Ship completed =
| Ship commissioned = 26 September 1987
| Ship recommissioned =
| Ship decommissioned = 20 September 2024
| Ship maiden voyage =
| Ship in service =
| Ship out of service =
| Ship renamed =
| Ship reclassified =
| Ship refit =
| Ship struck =
| Ship reinstated =
| Ship identification = *[[Maritime call sign|Call sign]]: NLEG
*{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Lima}}{{ICS|Echo}}{{ICS|Golf}}
*[[Hull number]]: CG-55
| Ship motto = ''Arrayed For Victory''
| Ship nickname = Double Nickel, America's Battle Cruiser
| Ship honors =
| Ship captured =
| Ship fate =
| Ship status = Out of service
| Ship notes =
| Ship badge = [[File:USS Leyte Gulf CG-55 Crest.png|150px]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header =
| Header caption =
| Ship class = {{sclass|Ticonderoga|cruiser}}
| Ship displacement = {{Ticonderoga class cruiser displacement}}
| Ship length = {{convert|565|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} She lost 2 feet after colliding with {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71}}
| Ship beam = {{Ticonderoga class cruiser beam}}
| Ship draft = {{Ticonderoga class cruiser draft}}
| Ship power =
| Ship propulsion = {{Ticonderoga class cruiser propulsion}}
| Ship speed = {{Ticonderoga class cruiser speed}}
| Ship range =
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| Ship complement = {{Ticonderoga class cruiser complement}}
| Ship time to activate =
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| Ship EW =
| Ship armament = {{Ticonderoga class cruiser armament mark 41}}
| Ship armor =
| Ship aircraft = {{Ticonderoga class cruiser aircraft}}
| Ship aircraft facilities =
| Ship notes =
}}
|}

'''USS ''Leyte Gulf'' (CG-55)''' is a {{sclass|Ticonderoga|cruiser|0}} [[guided missile cruiser]] in the [[United States Navy]]. She was named in memory of the [[World War II]] [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]] in the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]]. She is powered by four large [[General Electric LM2500|gas-turbine engines]], and she has a large complement of guided missiles for [[air defense]], attack of surface targets [[Boeing Harpoon|at sea]] and [[BGM-109 Tomahawk|ashore]], and [[anti-submarine warfare]] (ASW). In addition, she carries two [[SH-60 Seahawk|"Seahawk" LAMPS multi-purpose helicopters]], whose primary mission is ASW.

''Leyte Gulf'' was [[Keel laying|laid down]] by the Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation at [[Pascagoula, Mississippi]], on 18 March 1985, [[ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 20 June 1986, and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 26 September 1987 at [[Port Everglades]], Florida.<ref name="NVR">{{cite web | title=''Leyte Gulf'' (CG 55) | website=Naval Vessel Register URL | url={{Naval Vessel Register URL|CG_55}} | access-date=4 April 2024}}</ref><ref name="US Carriers CG-55">{{cite web | title=USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) history | website=U.S. Carriers | date=14 March 2024 | url=http://www.uscarriers.net/cg55history.htm | access-date=4 April 2024}}</ref>

''Leyte Gulf'' was decommissioned on 20 September 2024 at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) Holds Decommissioning Ceremony. |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8654901/uss-leyte-gulf-cg-55-holds-decommissioning-ceremony |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=DVIDS |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
''Leyte Gulf'' deployed with the ''Theodore Roosevelt'' Battle Group as part of her second regularly scheduled deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, right after Christmas in December 1990. Rather than staying in the Mediterranean, though, she and her battle group were ordered through the Suez Canal as a preparation for hostilities under the about-to-start Operation Desert Storm. She escorted {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71|2}} as the first ship astern of the carrier as they passed through the canal. Upon exiting the Suez Canal both ''Leyte Gulf'' and ''Theodore Roosevelt'' were ordered to detach from the remainder of their conventionally fueled battle group and make maximum possible speed for the Persian Gulf. To fulfill this order, ''Leyte Gulf'' maintained her highest possible speed (Flank 3) for 3 full days (a likely record for this class of ship) as these two ships travelled at maximum speed down the length of the Red Sea, around the Arabian Peninsula, and finally entered the Persian Gulf on 17 January 1991, after hostilities had begun. Left behind in the Red Sea because no refueling ship could keep up with ''Leyte Gulf'' and ''Theodore Roosevelt'' during their full-power run, ''Leyte Gulf'' instead refueled from ''Theodore Roosevelt'' herself as they made full speed for the Persian Gulf. The importance of that break-neck speed was due to uncertainty about Yemen's position on the war. Getting the carrier beyond shore batteries and short range patrol boats in the narrow straights was a priority before hostilities could commence on 16 January.

On 14 October 1996, ''Leyte Gulf'' collided with the {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier}}, {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71|6}} while conducting operations off the coast of [[North Carolina]]. The incident occurred as the carrier, without prior warning, reversed her engines while ''Leyte Gulf'' was behind her and slammed into the cruiser's bow. There were no personnel casualties or injuries reported,<ref name="DC Museum">{{cite web|url=http://www.dcfp.navy.mil/mc/museum/LEYTEGULF/LEYTEGULF.htm|title=USS ''Leyte Gulf'' at DCHM|access-date=16 September 2007|publisher=Naval Sea Systems Command DC Museum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214143307/http://www.dcfp.navy.mil/mc/museum/LEYTEGULF/LEYTEGULF.htm|archive-date=14 February 2008}}</ref> and damage to the Leyte was only $2 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypress.com/1996/11/23/navy-officers-reprimanded-for-role-in-ships-collision/|title=Navy Officers Reprimanded for Role in Ships Collision}}</ref>

In 1999, ''Leyte Gulf'' participated in [[NATO bombing of Yugoslavia|Operation Allied Force]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=NATO Operation Allied Force |url=http://archive.defense.gov/specials/kosovo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429194011/http://archive.defense.gov/specials/kosovo |archive-date=2017-04-29 |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=archive.defense.gov}}</ref>

In 2002, she won the [[Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award]] for the Atlantic Fleet.

In late 1992 ''Leyte Gulf'' was assigned to [[Carrier Group 2]].<ref>Polmar, Norman (1993). The Naval Institute Guide to The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, 15th ed. Annapolis, Maryland: U.S. Naval Institute Press. pp. 36 (Table 6-5), 375, 377–381, 383, 386. {{ISBN|1-55750-675-2}}.</ref> In March 2003 ''Leyte Gulf'' was assigned to [[Carrier Strike Group Eight|Carrier Group Eight]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/usa/surface.htm |title= World Navies Today: US Navy Aircraft Carriers & Surface Combatants |website= hazegray.org |first= Andrew |last= Toppan |date= 10 March 2003 |access-date=21 May 2012 }}</ref>

[[File:USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.jpg|thumb|left|USS ''Leyte Gulf'' steams under the [[Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge]] during the parade of ships on the opening day of [[Fleet Week|New York Fleet Week 2008]].]]
On 15 September 2007, there was a fire aboard ''Leyte Gulf'' as she underwent an extensive modernization program in [[BAE Systems Ship Repair|BAE Systems Shipyard]] in [[Norfolk, Virginia]]. Initially the fire received national attention due to the possibility that it was a terrorist incident, however, it was quickly revealed to be an industrial accident. Five shipyard workers were injured in the incident, one seriously, but no naval personnel were involved.<ref name="wavy10">{{cite web|url=http://www.wavy.com/global/story.asp?s=7079180|title=Fire on Navy cruiser in shipyard sends five to hospital|access-date=16 September 2007 |publisher=WAVY10 News, Hampton Roads}} {{dead link|date=July 2015}}</ref>

In February 2011, ''Leyte Gulf'' was involved in an [[Quest Incident|incident]] with [[Somali pirates]] after they captured the United States flagged [[yacht]] ''Quest''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna41715530 |title=Four American hostages killed by Somali pirates |publisher=NBC News |date=22 February 2011 |access-date=24 July 2015}}</ref>
{{stack|[[File:US Navy 040501-N-7586B-122.jpg|thumb|U.S. sailors from USS ''Leyte Gulf''{{'}}s Vessel Board Search and Seizure Team return to their ship]]}}
The cruiser returned to Norfolk on 15 July 2011. During her deployment, she had participated in operations which had captured 75 Somali pirates and had missile strikes by her carrier strike group against the Libyan government.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Todd Allen |title=USS Enterprise Returns To Norfolk |work=[[Newport News Daily Press]] |date=16 July 2011}}</ref>

In January 2015, ''Leyte Gulf'' returned from a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. The ship served as flagship of [[Standing NATO Maritime Group 2]] for much of the deployment.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=85105 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150116013650/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=85105 |archive-date= 16 January 2015 |title=USS Leyte Gulf Returns to Home Port |publisher= US Navy News Service NNS150107-04 |date= 7 January 2015}}</ref>

In August 2022 ''Leyte Gulf'' was again deployed to the Mediterranean Sea.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://news.usni.org/2022/08/25/carrier-uss-george-h-w-bush-joins-truman-strike-group-in-mediterranean |title=Carrier USS George H.W. Bush Joins Truman Strike Group in Mediterranean, Two Guided-Missile Subs in 6th Fleet |publisher= USNI News |date= 25 August 2022}}</ref> She returned to Norfolk on 9 June 2023.

On 29 January 2024, ''Leyte Gulf'' deployed Sunday from [[Naval Station Norfolk]], Va., to the [[4th Fleet]] area of operations, which includes the Caribbean and Central and South America. It will host [[HSM-50]], Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 50 and [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] Law Enforcement Detachment 404 and is expected to conduct passing exercises with regional partners and make port visits to counter threats such as illegal drug trafficking.<ref>{{cite web | last=McElhiney | first=Brian | title=USS Leyte Gulf deploys to Caribbean, South America | website=Stars and Stripes | date=29 January 2024 | url=https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2024-01-29/uss-leyte-gulf-deploy-12833599.html | access-date=3 April 2024}}</ref> She returned to [[Naval Station Norfolk]] on 17 May 2024. This will be her final deployment before decommissioning.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burchett |first1=Caitlyn |title=USS Leyte Gulf returns to Norfolk from final deployment before decommissioning in September |url=https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2024-05-21/uss-leyte-gulf-returns-norfolk-decommissioning-13933533.html |access-date=9 June 2024 |publisher=Stars and Stripes |date=22 May 2024}}</ref>

In March 2024, the Navy announced plans to inactivate ''Leyte Gulf'' on 20 September 2024.<ref>{{cite web |author= VADM J. E. Pitts | title= NAVADMIN 050/24 FY24 PROJECTED SHIP INACTIVATION SCHEDULE (UPDATED COPY) | website= MyNavyHR |url= https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2024/NAV24050.txt |date= 11 March 2024 | access-date=2 April 2024}}</ref>

On March 21, 2024, the ''Leyte Gulf'' and the US Coast Guard captured a [[narco-submarine]] 150 miles off the coast of [[Guyana]] carrying 5,225 pounds of cocaine.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://newsroom.gy/2024/04/04/narco-submarine-carrying-more-than-5000-pounds-of-cocaine-intercepted-offshore-guyana/ | title='Narco-submarine' carrying more than 5,000 pounds of cocaine intercepted offshore | date=4 April 2024 }}</ref>

On September 20, 2024 at Naval Station Norfolk, USS ''Leyte Gulf'' (CG-55) was decommissioned with Commanding Officer Commander Brian Harrington and Command Master Chief Michael Jedrykowski presiding.<ref>https://www.dvidshub.net/news/481515/uss-leyte-gulf-decommissioned</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Carrier Strike Group Two]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web |url= http://www.history.navy.mil/research/archives/command-operations-reports/ships/l/leyte-gulf-cg-55-i.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150727000730/http://www.history.navy.mil/research/archives/command-operations-reports/ships/l/leyte-gulf-cg-55-i.html |archive-date= 27 July 2015 |title= Leyte Gulf (CG-55) I - Ship Command Operations Reports |website= history.navy.mil }}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.leytegulf.navy.mil/default.aspx}}
* {{navsource|04/1155/040155|USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55)}}
{{Commons category|USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55)}}

{{Ticonderoga class cruiser}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leyte Gulf (CG-55)}}
[[Category:Ticonderoga-class cruisers]]
[[Category:Ships built in Pascagoula, Mississippi]]
[[Category:1986 ships]]
[[Category:Cold War cruisers of the United States]]
[[Category:Cruisers of the United States]]