59-61-lebourgeois
LeBourgeois
Julien J. LeBourgeois
July 28, 1959 — April 03, 1961
Vice Admiral Julien J. LeBourgeois was born in Southern Pines, North Carolina on November 23, 1923, Died 16 September 2012 (aged 88) son of Mrs. (Dorothy Johnson) LeBourgeois and Commander Henry Blow LeBourgeois USN, both deceased. He attended Alcee Fortier High School, New Orleans, Louisiana and Georgia Military Academy, College Park, Georgia, before entering the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, in 1941 on an appointment from the Third Congressional District of Louisiana. As a Midshipman, he was a Company Commander, won his Varsity "N" in track, numerals in cross country and was inter-battalion lightweight boxing champion. Graduating with the Class of 1945 and commissioned Ensign on June 7, 1944 (accelerated course due to World War II), he subsequently advanced in rank to Vice Admiral, to date from May 9, 1972.
Following graduation from the Naval Academy in 1944, he joined the USS COLUMBIA (CL 56) and while on board that cruiser participated in the invasions of Palau, Leyte, Mindoro, Lingayen Gulf and Balikpapan, the night Battle of Surigao Strait and the anti-shipping sweep in the South China Sea. In Lingayen Gulf, COLUMBIA was struck by three Japanese suicide aircraft. For this action, COLUMBIA was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation.
Detached from COLUMBIA in August 1946, he was next assigned as Gunnery
Officer and First Lieutenant of the USS HARVESON (DE-3 16).
He was transferred inJune 1947 to the USS BROWNSON (DD-868), serving as First Lieutenant and Damage Control Officer, later as Gunnery Officer.
In July 1949, he reported for instruction at the Naval Intelligence School and later attended the Naval Language School, Washington, D.C. where he qualified as an interpreter and translator in French. During the period June 1950 to July 1951, he was assigned to the Counterintelligence Branch of the Office of Naval Intelligence, Navy Department, after which he was Assistant Naval Attache at the American Legation, Tangier, Morocco. In October 1953, he joined the Staff of Commander Destroyer Flotilla Four as Communications Officer and in August 1955 he was assigned to the Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Current Intelligence Branch.
In September 1957, he reported to the pre-commissioning detail of the USS BLANDY (DD-943) as Prospective Executive Officer. Upon commissioning, November 26, 1957, he served as Executive Officer of that destroyer and was on board in 1958 when she transported the Unknown Soldiers of World War II and the Korean Conflict to Washington, DC for final interment in Arlington National Cemetery. Detached from BLANDY in January 1959, he next attended the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia and in July 1959 assumed command of the USS NORRIS (DD-859. Under his command, NORRIS had the highest competitive score overall for destroyers in theAtlantic Fleet for the fiscal year 1961 and was twice awarded the Battle Efficiency "E" and all departmental awards.
Assigned in April 1961 to the Staff of Commander Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet he headed a team of officers tasked with the preparation of the first curriculum for the US Naval Destroyer School. In July of that year, he attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, DC Completing the course there in June 1962, he then served in the Strategic Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, during which time he also earned a Masters of International Affairs degree from George Washington University. In December 1962, he became Executive Assistant and Senior Aide to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Plans and Policy). Upon completion of this assignment in June 1965, he was awarded the Legion of Merit.
In September 1965, he assumed command of the USS HALSEY (CLG-23). During HALSEY's 1966 deployment to the Far East, he also served as Commander, Southern Anti-Air/Search and Rescue Element in the Gulf of Tonkin. The surface and air units under his command effected the combat rescues of seventeen downed airmen in North Vietnam. In recognition of his performance in this assignment, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device. For the same period, HALSEY was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. For the competitive cycle ending December 31, 1966, HALSEY was awarded the Battle Efficiency "E", and Departmental Excellence in Operations, Engineering, Missilery and Anti-Submarine Warfare.
Detached from command of HALSEY in July 1967, he was assigned to the Systems Analysis Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department and in April 1968 he reported as Executive Assistant and Senior Aide to the Chief of Naval Operations for which service he was awarded a second Legion of Merit. Having been promoted to Rear Admiral, he was ordered to duty in January 1970 as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (Plans and Policy) on the NATO Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe in Casteau, Belgium. Upon completion of this assignment he was awarded' the Distinguished Service Medal.
In May 1972, he was promoted to Vice Admiral and assigned as Chief of Staff to the NATO Supreme Allied Command Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia. In August 1977, he became President, Naval War College, Newport Rhode Island until he retired from active duty in April 1977 at which time he was awarded a second Distinguished Service Medal.
Vice Admiral LeBourgeois passed away September 16, 2012 (88)
