The son of a Swiss immigrant father and American mother, Louis Menetrey was commissioned after graduating from the University of California. He retired in 1990 as a U.S. Army General.
Sponsored by:
Louis
Charles
Menetrey
August 19, 1929
–
January 14, 2009
Cemetery:
Arlington National Cemetery
Awards Received
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Legion of Merit
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Army Distinguished Service Medal
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Distinguished Service Cross
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Defense Distinguished Service Medal
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Army Distinguished Service Medal
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Silver Star
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Legion of Merit
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Silver Star
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry)Action Date:
June 1970 – April 1972
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Louis Charles Menetrey (ASN: 0-71395), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during the period June 1970 through April 1972, while serving in the Office of the Coordinator of Army Studies, Office of the Chief of Staff, United States Army. During the first part of his service he contributed greatly to efficiency in Army management through his coordination of the large study programs sponsored by the Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development and the Combat Developments Command. As Coordinator of Army Studies from December 1971, he coordinated the integration of hundreds of study proposals into the Army Study Program for FY 1973. His dedication to duty, ability to evaluate and reconcile divergent viewpoints, and skill in dealing with representatives from all Staff agencies were directly responsible for the elimination of wasteful study efforts and for greatly enhancing the responsiveness of the Army Study Program to the needs of Army decision-makers. In addition, during the entire period of his assignment to this office he successfully accomplished a number of sensitive projects for the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and the Vice Chief of Staff which were of great importance to the Army. Lieutenant Colonel Menetrey’s extraordinary accomplishments and exceptional performance of important duties are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
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Army Distinguished Service Medal
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: General Louis Charles Menetrey (ASN: 0-71395), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States culminating as Commander in Chief, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, Commander U.S. Forces, and Commander, Eighth United States Army, Korea, from 1987 to 1990.
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Distinguished Service Cross
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry)Batallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
28th Infantry Regiment, 3d BrigadeDivision:
1st Infantry DivisionAction Date:
April 1, 1968
Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 237 (January 23, 1969)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Louis Charles Menetrey (ASN: 0-71395), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. Lieutenant Colonel Menetrey distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 April 1968 as a battalion commander during a reconnaissance-in-force mission northwest of Ben Cat. Learning that one man had become separated from the rest of the unit during an encounter between a small security element and the Viet Cong, Colonel Menetrey personally led a platoon into the hazardous area. He and his men located an enemy base camp and received intense fire. Once he had successfully rescued the missing soldier, he brought two additional companies into the battle. Repeatedly exposing himself to the communists’ barrage, Colonel Menetrey directed artillery, air strikes and maneuvers of his troops keeping the enemy entrapped and under constant pressure. With complete disregard for his own welfare, he moved to the forefront of the action and led repeated assaults on the enemy strongholds. On one occasion he assisted in moving a wounded tank commander to safety and then directed tank fire from an exposed position, killing several Viet Cong. After being knocked down by a claymore mine, he led a charge which eliminated the enemy troops who had detonated the device. His aggressive and skillful leadership resulted in the severe defeat of the Viet Cong force. Lieutenant Colonel Menetrey’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
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Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Under the provisions of Executive Order 11545, July 9, 1970, the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America take pleasure in awarding the Defense Distinguished Service Medal to General Louis Charles Menetrey (ASN: 0-71395), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service contributing to national security and defense, in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States. The distinctive accomplishments of General Menetrey reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Army, and the Department of Defense.
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Army Distinguished Service Medal
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to General Louis Charles Menetrey (ASN: 0-71395), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commanding General, Combined Field Army (Republic of Korea/United States), from January 1983 to January 1985. Possessing an astute knowledge of tactics and strategy and their associated challenges, he has made outstanding contributions that materially improved the readiness and defense posture of the Combined Field Army, particularly in the areas of intelligence planning, operations, and logistics. General Menetrey was directly responsible for developing and improving the collection, analysis, management, and dissemination techniques for intelligence information through an innovative reorganization of the Combined Field Army C-2. In the area of tactics and operations, General Menetrey developed several daring initiatives, subsequently refined and improved ensuring exercises, that led directly to the successful implementation of the Combined Field Army Counter-Offensive Plan, the first time an offensive plan of such magnitude has been successfully war-gamed. Also, he was directly responsible for the reorganization and establishment of Korean Army artillery assets assigned to the Combined Field Army to establish a highly efficient command and control system that strengthens the defense and facilitates counter-offensive operations. General Menetrey was also instrumental in the activation of a movements control center in direct support of the Combined Field Army’s area of operation, the projection and pre-stockage of war material to reinforce the combat power of the combined force, and improved ammunition readiness through technical assistance visits to approximately 94 subordinate battalions. His leadership undeniably enhanced the effectiveness of operations and combined force interoperability and improved relationships between all elements of the combined force. Lieutenant General Menetrey’s exceptional performance of duty is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Combined Field Army (Republic of Korea/United States), and the United States Army.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry)Batallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
28th Infantry Regiment, 3d BrigadeDivision:
1st Infantry DivisionAction Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Louis Charles Menetrey (ASN: 0-71395), United States Army, was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, from 1968 to 1969.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry)Batallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
28th Infantry Regiment, 3d BrigadeDivision:
1st Infantry DivisionAction Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Louis Charles Menetrey (ASN: 0-71395), United States Army, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer, 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, from 1968 to 1969.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry)Batallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
28th Infantry Regiment, 3d BrigadeDivision:
1st Infantry DivisionAction Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Louis Charles Menetrey (ASN: 0-71395), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, from 1968 to 1969.