Leroy J. Manor
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Leroy Joseph Manor | |
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Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (4) Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Purple Heart |
Leroy Joseph Manor (February 21, 1921 – February 25, 2021) was a
Biography
Born in
In September 1945, Captain Manor was assigned as a pilot at the Air Proving Grounds, Fla. He attended New York University during 1946–47 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in education. For the next six years, Manor was an instructor, first at Tactical Air School, Tyndall Air Force Base; next at the newly formed Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base; and last at the Air-Ground Operations School, Southern Pines, North Carolina.
From September 1953 to June 1955, Major Manor was a staff officer with the 6th Allied Tactical Air Force (NATO) at
In July 1960, Manor transferred to Headquarters, United States Air Forces in Europe, where he was Chief, Tactical Evaluation Division, until July 1963, when he entered the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. In June 1964, Colonel Manor was assigned to Headquarters US Air Force in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, where he served successively in the Directorate of Operations as Chief, Plans and Capabilities Branch; Chief, Analysis of Southeast Asia Operations Study Group; and as Chief, Operations Review Group.
In May 1968, he assumed command of the
In February 1971, Manor became Deputy Director for Operations/Special Assistant for Counterinsurgency and Special Activities, Joint Staff at Washington, D.C. He was transferred to the Philippines in February 1973 to become Vice Commander,
Raid on Son Tay
From August 8, 1970, to November 21, 1970, Manor served as a commander of a joint Army-Air Force task force whose mission was to rescue United States military personnel held as prisoners of war at
The Joint Contingency Task Group was formed in June 1970 after American intelligence had identified Son Tay Prison, near Hanoi, as a prisoner of war detention camp. After five months of planning and rehearsals, the task force deployed to Thailand on November 18. Two nights later the task force flew into North Vietnam. The assault group, led by U.S. Army Capt. Dick Meadows, landed in the prison compound and killed about 50 NVA guards, but found the compound to be otherwise abandoned. Meanwhile, Colonel Arthur D. "Bull" Simons, deputy task force commander, had landed with the support group in an adjacent military school compound, which was teeming with Russian and Chinese soldiers. Simons and his team killed or repelled many of these soldiers, eliminating the principal threat to the assault group. The raiders executed the entire operation in 26 minutes, successfully faced an enemy force of approximately 350 men, and left with only 2 injuries.
Wording of the
Brigadier General Leroy J. Manor, United States Air Force, distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States in a duty of great responsibility while serving as the Commander of a Joint Task Force on 21 November 1970. General Manor commanded the humanitarian force whose mission was to search for and rescue United States military personnel held as prisoners of war deep within the territory of North Vietnam. He conceived a brilliant tactical plan, carefully selected and helped train the volunteers with the necessary expertise to carry it out. Over a period of three months, he repeatedly simulated each phase of the operation, thereby insuring its faultless execution. General Manor's brilliant talents of command and supervision resulted in a superbly trained joint task force. The mission was daring in concept, and bold in execution. General Manor directed the operation from his command post with the highest degree of professionalism. Despite great hazard, the operation was conducted without the loss of a single American life. The singular efforts and outstanding achievement of General Manor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.[3]
Awards and decorations
Manor earned a
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| U.S. Air Force Command Pilot Badge | ||
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
with three bronze oak leaf clusters | ||
| Legion of Merit with bronze oak leaf cluster |
Valor device and bronze oak leaf cluster
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Purple Heart |
| Air Medal with four silver oak leaf clusters |
Air Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters (second ribbon required for accoutrement spacing) |
Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster |
| Army Commendation Medal | Air Force Presidential Unit Citation | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and bronze oak leaf cluster |
| Combat Readiness Medal | American Campaign Medal | campaign stars
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World War II Victory Medal
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National Defense Service Medal with service star |
Vietnam Service Medal with silver campaign star |
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters |
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
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Legion of Honour (Knight) |
Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order (2nd Class) |
Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal (1st Class) |
South Korean Order of Military Merit (Chungmu Medal) |
| Philippine Legion of Honor | Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
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Vietnam Campaign Medal |
Notes
- ^ "Leroy J. Manor". Nationwide Gravesite Locator (Veterans Affairs). Retrieved July 6, 2023.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Thompson, Jim (February 26, 2021). "Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Leroy Manor, known for leadership in Son Tay Raid, dies at 100". Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ "Remarks on Presenting Medals to Members of a Search and Rescue Mission to Sontay, Vietnam"[permanent dead link] Accessed 23 June 2009
- ^ Lawrence, Angelita (2015-03-04). "Lt. Gen. Manor is awarded the French Legion of Honor". United States Special Operations Command. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
References
- USAF Official biography
- "Lieutenant General Leroy J. Manor, United States Air Force (Retired)". United States. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Special Operations Review Group. Rescue Mission Report. Washington, DC: Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1980. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
Further reading
- Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) (February 1977). "LIEUTENANT GENERAL LEROY J. MANOR" (Press release). U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on January 17, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2009.