Leon L. Van Autreve
Leon L. Van Autreve | |
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Army Commendation Medal (4) |
Leon L. Van Autreve (January 29, 1920 – March 14, 2002) was a United States Army soldier who served as the fourth Sergeant Major of the Army. He was sworn in on July 1, 1973, and served until June 1975.
Early life and education
Van Autreve was born in Eeklo, Belgium, on January 29, 1920.
Van Autreve attended
Military career
Van Autreve entered the
From 1963 to 1964, Van Autreve was stationed in Indonesia, 1964 to 1967 in
Sergeant Major of the Army
Van Autreve saw increasing the standards of the army's non-commissioned officer (NCO) corps as his highest priority. As part of the rejuvenation of the NCO Corps, Van Autreve gave NCOs more voice in command decisions, reduced the army's reliance on soldiers' councils, increased professional standards for NCOs, developed the Noncommissioned Officer Education System, and encouraged NCOs to have the moral courage to police their own ranks.[1]
Later life and legacy
In 1994, the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club designated Fort Sam Houston, Texas, as the SMA Van Autreve Chapter.[2]
Van Autreve died on March 14, 2002, in
Awards and decorations
Basic Parachutist Badge |
Army Distinguished Service Medal
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oak leaf clusters
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Soldier's Medal | |
Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster | |
award numeral 2
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Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters | |
Presidential Unit Citation | |
Meritorious Unit Commendation with oak leaf cluster | |
silver loops
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American Defense Service Medal | |
American Campaign Medal | |
European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Medal with six campaign stars and arrowhead device
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World War II Victory Medal
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Army of Occupation Medal | |
National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster | |
Vietnam Service Medal with six campaign stars | |
Armed Forces Reserve Medal | |
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation
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Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal | |
10 Overseas Service Bars. | |
10 Service stripes. |
References
- ^ Association of the United States Army Archived 2011-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ SAMC SMA Van Autreve Chapter Archived 2011-05-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Official U.S. Army Biography
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army
The Sergeants Major of the Army, Daniel K. Elder, Center of Military History, United States Army Washington, D.C. 2003.