Posted on Jun 11, 2016

Lavelle testifies before Congress - Jun 12, 1972 - HISTORY.com

SP5 Mark Kuzinski

962

18

8

4

0

Gen. John D. Lavelle, former four-star general and U.S. Air Force commander in Southeast Asia, testifies before the House Armed Services Committee. He had been relieved of his post in March and later demoted after it was determined that he had repeatedly ordered unauthorized bombings of military targets in North Vietnam. Court-martial charges were brought against him by his subordinates but were dropped by the Air Force because the “interests of discipline” had already been served. Lavelle became the first four-star general in modern U.S. history to be demoted on retirement, although he continued to receive full general’s retirement pay of $27,000 per year.

@SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas , Capt Christopher Mueller , CPT (Join to see) , COL Mikel J. Burroughs , Sgt Joe LaBranche , SSgt (Join to see), TSgt Hunter Logan Capt Seid Waddell SrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F. PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom Earley PVT James Strait Alan K. @po1 william "chip" PO1 William "Chip" Nagel @SGT John McConnell SGT John " Mac " McConnell

Lavelle testifies before Congress - Jun 12, 1972 - HISTORY.com

Posted from history.com

Posted in these groups: Vietnam service ribbon

Vietnam War Us o10 insignia.svg

GEN

Posted >1 y ago

Responses: 6

1

0

COL Mikel J. Burroughs

Posted >1 y ago

SP5 Mark Kuzinski Didn't know this, but now I do - thanks Mark!

(1)

Comment

(0)

1

0

Sgt Tom Cunnally

Posted >1 y ago

My brother in law who was an AF Colonel got caught up in this Gen Lavelle demotion because he was part of his team that recommended changes to the bombing targets in North Vietnam. He was given a Legion of Merit medal and shown the door by the AF in 1972. He said he was very disappointed he had to take retirement when he was 52 and wanted to stay in the AF. He also had his ticket punched for promotion to Brig. General. It took him several years to get over being pushed out the door after he had served during WWII, Korea and Vietnam as a pilot and commander in the Air Force.

(1)

Comment

(0)

SP5 Mark Kuzinski

>1 y

So much "BS" that went on then and continues on and on and on. Good morning Sgt Tom Cunnally .

(1)

Reply

(0)

Sgt Tom Cunnally

>1 y

SP5 Mark Kuzinski - I think what happened was General Lavell sent a team of AF senior officers to South Vietnam to fully understand the bombing missions that were going on then. This team including my brother in law came back and gave General Lavelle a report that recommended changing the bombing targets which he OK'd and then lost his job along with everyone on the team he sent to Nam.

It is a good morning BC beat Miami last night in the College Baseball semifinals and play again this noon with the winner going onto the finals in Nebraska...

(0)

Reply

(0)