Louis C. Menetrey

Louis C. Menetrey on his promotion to lieutenant general (1982)

Louis Charles Menetrey (born August 19, 1929 in Hollywood , Los Angeles , California , † January 14, 2009 in Niceville , Florida ) was a general in the US Army , who was last in command of the United Nations Command in Korea between 1987 and 1990 . commander of US forces in South Korea USFK ( US forces Korea ) as well as commanding general of the Eighth US army ( Eighth US army) was.

Life

Military training and the Vietnam War

Menetrey grew up in Hollywood and after attending Hollywood High School began studying political science at the University of California (UCLA), which he completed with a Bachelor of Arts (BA Political Science). He then joined the US Army in 1953 and completed his basic training for infantry and paratroopers at Fort Benning . He then served as an officer in various companies and an evaluation officer for nuclear weapons. After his promotion to major, attended the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) at Fort Leavenworth and earned a Master of Arts after studying at Georgetown University . He also graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk . According to various uses as an officer he was during the Vietnam War lieutenant colonel and first deputy chief of staff of the 1st Cavalry Division ( 1st Cavalry Division ) and subsequently commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 28th Infantry Regiment. For his services in this service he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on January 23, 1969 , twice the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit .

After his return to the United States completed Menetrey the National War College (NWC) in Fort Lesley J. McNair , and was followed from June 1970 to April 1972 in the office of the coordinator for Military Studies (Office of the Coordinator of Army Studies) at the office of the Chief of the Office of the Chief of Staff, US Army . There he initially worked as the coordinator of an extensive study program for the Assistant Chief of the Army Staff Development and Combat Development Command, General William E. DePuy , and most recently since December 1971 as the coordinator for the introduction of proposals for the Army Study Program in the 1973 budget year this function he was given a bronze oak leaf branch in place of another Legion of Merit. Then he was first General Staff Officer G-3 of the 101st Airborne Division ( 101st Airborne Division ) and then deputy commander of the 2nd Brigade of this division at Fort Campbell .

Promotion to general

There occurs Menetreys promotion to brigadier general , and he of the 2nd Infantry Division, following deputy commander ( 2nd Infantry Division ) in South Korea was. During a subsequent activity as deputy commander of the Joint Arms Development Agency CADA (Combined Arms Development Agency) , he was instrumental in setting up the National Training Center , which was founded on August 9, 1979 in Fort Irwin. On September 19, 1978 he replaced Major General John F. Forrest as commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division ( 4th Infantry Division ) and remained in this post until his replacement by Major General John W. Hudachek on September 11, 1980. He was then chief the Director of Requirements in the Army staff. In January 1983 Menetrey became the commanding general of the Combined Field Army stationed in South Korea and remained in this service until January 1985. For his achievements there, he received the Army Distinguished Service Medal . He was then between January 1985 and June 1987 commander of the Fifth US Army stationed at Fort Sam Houston ( Fifth US Army ) .

Last sparked Menetrey on 25 June 1987 General William J. Livsey as commander of the United Nations Command in Korea as well as in personal union as commander of US forces in South Korea USFK ( US Forces Korea ) as well as commanding general of the Eighth US Army ( Eighth US Army ) . He remained in these uses until he retired on June 26, 1990, when General Robert W. RisCassi took his place. For his services during this time he was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and a bronze oak leaf branch in place of a second Army Distinguished Service Medal.

Menetrey was married, in the first marriage until her death in 1978 with Deloris V. Menetrey and in the second marriage until her death in 1988 with Susan SK Menetrey. After his death he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery .

Awards

Selection of awards, sorted based on the Order of Precedence of Military Awards :

•   Distinguished Service Cross
•   Defense Distinguished Service Medal
•   Army Distinguished Service Medal (2 ×)
•   Silver Star (2 ×)
•   Legion of Merit (2 ×)

Web link

• Entry in the Hall of Valor

• Louis C. Menetrey in the database of Find a Grave (English)