Leon J. LaPorte

Leon J. LaPorte (born October 5, 1946)[1] is a retired United States Army General who served as Commander, 1st Cavalry Division from 1995 through 1997 and as Commander, United States Forces Korea until 2006.

Leon J. LaPorte
Leon J. LaPorte as Major General
Born (1946-10-05) October 5, 1946
Providence, Rhode Island
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1968-2006
Rank General
Commands heldU.S. Forces Korea 1st Cavalry 1995-1997
Battles/warsVietnam War
Gulf War
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal(4)
Air Medal (With Valor Device)
Army Commendation Medal (With Valor Device)

Career

LaPorte graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1968 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army as an Armor Officer. From 1969 until 1970 he served with the 3rd Infantry Division, in 1971 he transferred to the 238th Aerial Weapons Company in the Republic of Vietnam. In 1977 he received his master's degree in Administration from the University of California, Irvine. From 1977 until 1980 he was an assistant Professor at the United States Military Academy. In October 1990 as the Chief of Staff, 1st Cavalry Division he deployed as part of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He returned in 1995 to command the 1st Cavalry Division until 1997. From February 2003 until February 2006 he was commander of United States Forces Korea (USFK) and United Nations Forces, Korea. In February he retired from the Army after 38 years of service, handing command to U.S. Army General Burwell B. Bell III.

Despite his reputation as an abrasive and callous commander, LaPorte played a major part in an investigation of the involvement U.S. military personnel in hiring prostitutes and facilitating human trafficking in South Korea.[2][3][4] Laporte gave an apology to the families of the two South Korean junior high-school girls that were accidentally run over and killed by a U.S. armored vehicle in 2002.[5]

Awards and decorations
Army Basic Aviator Badge
Ranger tab
Basic Parachutist Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
United Nations Command Badge
1st Cavalry Division Combat Service Identification Badge
9th Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with "V" device and bronze award numeral 9
 Army Commendation Medal with "V" device
Army Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Commendation
National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars
Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal with three service stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 2
Bundeswehr Cross of Honor in Silver (Republic of Germany)
Order of National Security Merit, Tong-il Medal (Republic of Korea)
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
LaPorte before the Senate Armed Services Committee on September 23, 2004

References
  1. "NOMINATIONS BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, SECOND SESSION, 107TH CONGRESS". Frwebgate.access.gpo.gov. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  2. "CSCE :: Article :: Helsinki Commission, House Armed Services Committee Examine Trafficking in Persons". Csce.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  3. Archived October 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Asia-Pacific | US soldiers charged for Korean deaths". BBC News. 2002-07-05. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  5. "Two S Korean teenagers run over US military vehicle". Ibiblio.org. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
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