MAJOR GENERAL
LAWRENCE H. LIVINGSTON, USMC (RETIRED) 
 

Major General Lawrence H. Livingston retired from the U.S. Marine Corps on 1 November 1997. Born on 5 November 1940, in Defiance, Ohio, he attended Defiance College prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1960 and was initially assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In late 1966, he was transferred to the 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam, where he served as a squad leader, platoon sergeant, platoon commander and company gunnery sergeant. Ordered to Officer Candidates School, Quantico, Virginia, after the TET Offensive in 1968, then a staff sergeant, he was commissioned via the Meritorious NCO Program. Upon completion of The Basic School in 1968, he was assigned to the 5th Marine Division, 5th MEB, and 3d Marine Division, where he served as a platoon commander.

General Livingston was assigned to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, as company commander and battalion and regimental operations officer. He attended Chapman College and received a B.A. degree in both Economics and Business Administration.

In late 1976, he was assigned to the 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, where he served as company commander, battalion operations officer, and battalion executive officer. He was subsequently reassigned to Director of Division Schools. During this tour, he was promoted to major in July 1978.

Upon completion of the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk,Virginia, in 1980, General Livingston was assigned to MCCDC, Quantico, where he served as Tactics Group Chief and Operations Officer of The Basic School until May 1983. His next assignment was Operations Officer, Marine Aircraft Group 15, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in October 1983.

Ordered to the 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, upon completion of his exchange assignment, he served briefly as Regimental Executive Officer of the 6th Marine Regiment and then two years as Commanding Officer of 3d Battalion, 4th Marines.

From 1986 to 1987, he was a student at the National War College in Washington, D.C. He was next assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, where he served as Head of both the Joint Strategic Planning Branch and the Eastern Regional Branch of the Plans Division. While at Headquarters, he was promoted to colonel in September 1989. He was assigned duty as the Commanding Officer, 6th Marines at Camp Lejeune in 1990. His regiment spearheaded the assault into Kuwait and the recapture of Kuwait City for the 2d Marine Division during Operation Desert Storm. While serving in this capacity, he was selected in December 1991 for promotion to brigadier general. General Livingston was assigned duty as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Force Structure Implementation, Plans, Policies and Operations Department, Headquarters, Marine Corps in February 1992. He assumed duties as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in July 1992. He was advanced to his final grade in February 1995. He assumed his last assignment in June 1995 as the Commanding General, 2d Marine Division, Marine Forces, Atlantic, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

His personal decorations include: the Navy Cross; Silver Star Medal; Legion of Merit with Combat “V” and one gold star; Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” and three gold stars; Purple Heart with four gold stars; Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”; Combat Action Ribbon with one gold star; Good Conduct Medal; Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal First Class; and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with two silver stars and one bronze star.

Marines in Vietnam: 1954-1975