Stephen G. Olmstead
Stephen Goodwin Olmstead | |
|---|---|
United States of America | |
| Service/ |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1948–1989 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Service number | 0-54006 |
| Commands held |
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| Battles/wars | Korean War
Dominican Civil War Vietnam War |
| Awards | |
Stephen Goodwin Olmstead (10 November 1929 – 20 July 2022) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with a rank of Lieutenant General. His last assignment was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Drug Policy and Enforcement and the Director of the Department of Defense Task Force on Drug Enforcement.[2][3][4][5]
Early career
Stephen G. Olmstead was born on 10 November 1929, in
Following a United States entry into the
He was subsequently sent back to the United States and selected for the Basic School at Quantico, Virginia. Olmstead completed the school in June 1951 and was commissioned second lieutenant. He then remained at Marine Corps Base Quantico and served consecutively as Platoon leader and Company Executive Officer within the School's Demonstration Troops until early 1953.[2][3][4][5]
While at Quantico, Olmstead was promoted to first lieutenant in October 1952 and completed the correspondence course at the Naval Justice School at Newport, Rhode Island. He joined the Marine Detachment aboard the light cruiser USS Northampton in January 1953 and served as Detachment Executive officer during the extensive tests of new equipment of the ship.[2][3][4][5]
In March 1954, Olmstead was promoted to captain and ordered to
During January 1958, Olmstead was reassigned as a company commander,
He remained in that capacity until July 1961, when he was sent back to the United States for duty as an instructor at the Army Intelligence School at Fort Holabird, Maryland. While in this capacity, he was promoted to Major in September 1961. While in this assignment, he earned Bachelor of Science degree from Military Science at the University of Maryland, College Park.[2][3][4][5]
Olmstead returned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in July 1964 and joined
Vietnam War
Following a period of service back at Camp Lejeune, Olmstead received orders for deployment to
He was then attached to the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff at
Olmstead was subsequently ordered to the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, where he completed the Senior Course in June 1970 and also graduated with Master of Science degree from the correspondence course in the international affairs at the George Washington University. He was then assigned to the Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C. and appointed Branch Head in the Operations Division (G-3) under Major general Clifford B. Drake. Olmstead was promoted to colonel in September 1971.[2][3][4][5]
In July 1973, Olmstead was ordered to
Later career
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Olmstead was ordered to Gaeta, Italy, in May 1974 and joined the staff of Commander, United States Sixth Fleet under Vice admiral Frederick C. Turner. He served as the Fleet Marine Officer until his promotion to brigadier general on 1 April 1976, when he was ordered back to the United States for new assignment. Olmstead was then sent to the Marine Corps Development and Education Command, Quantico and served as Deputy for Development and Director of Development Center, Quantico under lieutenant general Joseph C. Fegan Jr.[2][3][4][5]
He was responsible for the development and testing of new tactics, equipment and techniques and in January 1977, he was given additional duty as Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Studies at the
Olmstead was transferred to the Headquarters Marine Corps at the end of June 1982 and assumed duty as Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Affairs. He served in this capacity until July 1984, when he assumed duty as Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. While in this capacity, he held additional duty as Commanding general, Eastern Recruiting Region and served in this assignment until 1 July 1986, when he retired from active duty. Olmstead was decorated with Navy Distinguished Service Medal during his retirement ceremony.[2][3][4][9]
His retirement did not last long and he was recalled to active duty in October 1986, when President Ronald Reagan appointed him with Senate confirmation to serve as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Drug Policy and Enforcement and the Director of the Department of Defense Task Force on Drug Enforcement. It was the part of Reagan's War on drugs and Olmstead was responsible for the coordination of inter-branch anti-drug activities.[2][3][4][5]
Olmstead's office loaned equipment to other law enforcement agencies like
He served in this assignment until June 1989, when he retired from active duty for second time, completing 41 years of service. Olmstead received Defense Distinguished Service Medal for service as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Drug Policy and Enforcement and the Director of the Department of Defense Task Force on Drug Enforcement.[2][3][4][5][9]
Retirement
Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, Olmstead served as Chairman of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation for six years. He was past President of Partners Against Drug Abuse, Inc. and served on the board of directors of the International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association. Olmstead was National Chairman of the Marine Corps League Exposition Committee, was past president of the United States Marine Youth Foundation and past president of The Chosin Few, a Korea veterans organization.[3][6][12]
Olmstead died on 20 July 2022, following a brief hospital stay. He was survived by his wife of seventy years, the former Vera L. Mead and their three children: Barbara J., Elizabeth A. and Stephen G., also a Marine officer.[1][2][3]
Medals and decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Lieutenant General Olmstead:[9]
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| 1st row | Defense Distinguished Service Medal | |||||||||||||||
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| 2nd row | Navy Distinguished Service Medal | Legion of Merit | Bronze Star Medal | Joint Service Commendation Medal
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| 3rd row | Combat "V"
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Army Commendation Medal
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Combat Action Ribbon | Navy Presidential Unit Citation | ||||||||||||
| 4th row | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation | National Defense Service Medal with one star | Korean Service Medal with two 3/16 inch service stars | ||||||||||||
| 5th row | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Vietnam Service Medal with two 3/16 inch service stars | Navy Sea Service Ribbon | Republic of Korea )
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| 6th row | Korean Presidential Unit Citation
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Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | United Nations Korea Medal
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Vietnam Campaign Medal | ||||||||||||
See also
- List of 3rd Marine Division Commanders
References
- ^ a b c "Stephen Goodwin Olmstead obituary". Legacy. The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Stephen G. Olmstead Papers – USMC Military History Division". USMC Military History Division. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "LtGen Stephen Olmstead USMC (ret) – President YPF Foundation". Marine Corps League. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Defense Department Authorization and Oversight: Title I, procurement of aircraft". United States Congress House Committee on Armed Services. 12 June 1975. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Efforts of the U.S. Government to Reduce the Flow of Illegal Drugs". United States Congress House Committee on Armed Services. 12 June 1989. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Dunford Helps 'Chosin Few' Dedicate Monument to Korean War Battle". U.S. Department of Defense websites. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
- ^ "Veterans in U.S. moved by 'Ode to My Father'". Korea Joongang Daily websites. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
- ISBN 978-0-16-026455-9..
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain - ^ a b c d "Valor awards for Stephen G. Olmstead". valor.militarytimes.com. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
- ^ "Officers changed". cdnc.ucr.edu. Desert Sun, Number 200, 25 March 1980. 25 March 1980. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Military admits many problems confront it in fighting drug war". cdnc.ucr.edu. Desert Sun, 4 June 1988. 4 June 1988. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation – Leaders& Senior Staff". Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Websites. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
