Jimmie Leach
Encyclopedia
Colonel James Herbert "Jimmie" Leach (April 7, 1922 – December 17, 2009) was a US Army officer who served as a World War II battlefield Company Commander in Lt. Col. Creighton Abrams
' 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division in Gen. George Patton's 3rd Army, from July 1944 and Operation Cobra
, the subsequent rapid advance across France, through the Lorraine Campaign
and the Battle of the Bulge
. From May to September, 1948, Leach served as US Army liaison to the government of South Korea on Jeju island at the beginning of the insurrection that has been termed the Jeju Uprising. Col. Leach later commanded the 11th Armored Cavalry as the 40th "Colonel of the Regiment" in Vietnam from April–December, 1969 having taken command from Col. George Patton IV
, son of his 3rd Army World War commander. As Chief of Armor Branch of the US Army in 1970-1972 he oversaw the careers of 3500 field-grade Army officers. As Chief, Col. Leach paid particular attention to the desire of battle-wounded officers to remain active in the Army. General Frederick M. Franks, Jr. credits Col. Leach with the critical role in maintaining his Army career and the career of other officers after Franks lost a foot in combat in Vietnam. Franks later led elements of Operation Desert Storm in the first Gulf War.
Col. Leach received the Distinguished Service Cross for his valor at Bigonville, Luxembourg on Dec 24, 1944, and earned five Purple Hearts for wounds in the European campaigns. Col. Leach was awarded the Croix de Guerre of Luxembourg, Virtuti Militarie – Poland, Legion of Merit, Two Silver Star Medals awarded during Vietnam, and two Bronze Star Medals with “V” device. His honors include: Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame, Ft. Benning, GA; First recipient of the Gold Medal of the Order of St. George, US Armor Association in 1986; Professor of Military History, Ft. Knox, Kentucky; President of Military Officers of America Association; and President of the Veterans Cemetery Committee of Beaufort (VCCOB).
He was the posthumous recipient of the French Legion of Honor in 2010.
After retirement from the US Army in 1974 Col. Leach worked for defense contractor Teledyne for 14 years before retiring to Beaufort, SC. Col. Leach led successful efforts to expand the Beaufort (SC) National Cemetery, a resting place for war dead since the Civil War. He last visited France in September 2009 celebrating the 65th anniversary of the American liberation of the Province of Lorraine. At Chancenay, the memorial for the Battle of Arracourt
and three other celebrations Col. Leach offered remarks honoring the French and the soldiers who participated in his battles.
Lt. Colonel Abrams, who became US commander in Vietnam and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described young Capt. Leach at 22:
"The placid, modest, friendly exterior of this Officer disguises the fighting heart of a lion and the tenaciousness of a bulldog, all seasoned with an engaging personality. - Lt. Colonel Creighton W. Abrams, Dec. 31, 1944."
Creighton Abrams
Creighton Williams Abrams Jr. was a general in the United States Army who commanded military operations in the Vietnam War from 1968–72 which saw U.S. troop strength in Vietnam fall from a peak of 543,000 to 49,000. He served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1972 until shortly...
' 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division in Gen. George Patton's 3rd Army, from July 1944 and Operation Cobra
Operation Cobra
Operation Cobra was the codename for an offensive launched by the First United States Army seven weeks after the D-Day landings, during the Normandy Campaign of World War II...
, the subsequent rapid advance across France, through the Lorraine Campaign
Lorraine Campaign
Lorraine Campaign is a term used by U.S. Army historians to describe operations of the U.S. Third Army in Lorraine during World War II from September 1 through December 18, 1944. Official U.S. Army campaign names for this period and location are Northern France and Rhineland. The term was...
and the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
. From May to September, 1948, Leach served as US Army liaison to the government of South Korea on Jeju island at the beginning of the insurrection that has been termed the Jeju Uprising. Col. Leach later commanded the 11th Armored Cavalry as the 40th "Colonel of the Regiment" in Vietnam from April–December, 1969 having taken command from Col. George Patton IV
George Patton IV
George Smith Patton, IV was a Major General in the United States Army and the son of World War II General George Patton.-Military biography:...
, son of his 3rd Army World War commander. As Chief of Armor Branch of the US Army in 1970-1972 he oversaw the careers of 3500 field-grade Army officers. As Chief, Col. Leach paid particular attention to the desire of battle-wounded officers to remain active in the Army. General Frederick M. Franks, Jr. credits Col. Leach with the critical role in maintaining his Army career and the career of other officers after Franks lost a foot in combat in Vietnam. Franks later led elements of Operation Desert Storm in the first Gulf War.
Col. Leach received the Distinguished Service Cross for his valor at Bigonville, Luxembourg on Dec 24, 1944, and earned five Purple Hearts for wounds in the European campaigns. Col. Leach was awarded the Croix de Guerre of Luxembourg, Virtuti Militarie – Poland, Legion of Merit, Two Silver Star Medals awarded during Vietnam, and two Bronze Star Medals with “V” device. His honors include: Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame, Ft. Benning, GA; First recipient of the Gold Medal of the Order of St. George, US Armor Association in 1986; Professor of Military History, Ft. Knox, Kentucky; President of Military Officers of America Association; and President of the Veterans Cemetery Committee of Beaufort (VCCOB).
He was the posthumous recipient of the French Legion of Honor in 2010.
After retirement from the US Army in 1974 Col. Leach worked for defense contractor Teledyne for 14 years before retiring to Beaufort, SC. Col. Leach led successful efforts to expand the Beaufort (SC) National Cemetery, a resting place for war dead since the Civil War. He last visited France in September 2009 celebrating the 65th anniversary of the American liberation of the Province of Lorraine. At Chancenay, the memorial for the Battle of Arracourt
Battle of Arracourt
The Battle of Arracourt was a battle between U.S. and German armored forces during World War II near the town of Arracourt, Lorraine, France, from 18-29 September 1944. As part of a counteroffensive against recent U.S. advances in France, the German 5th Panzer Army had as its objective the...
and three other celebrations Col. Leach offered remarks honoring the French and the soldiers who participated in his battles.
Lt. Colonel Abrams, who became US commander in Vietnam and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described young Capt. Leach at 22:
"The placid, modest, friendly exterior of this Officer disguises the fighting heart of a lion and the tenaciousness of a bulldog, all seasoned with an engaging personality. - Lt. Colonel Creighton W. Abrams, Dec. 31, 1944."