Leon L. Van Autreve

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.

Leon L. Van Autreve
Sergeant Major of the Army Leon L. Van Autreve
Born(1920-01-29)January 29, 1920
Eeklo, Belgium
DiedMarch 14, 2002(2002-03-14) (aged 82)
San Antonio, Texas, United States
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1941–1945
1948–1975
RankSergeant Major of the Army
Battles/warsWorld War II
Vietnam War
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)
Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star Medal (2)
Air Medal (2)
Army Commendation Medal (4)

Early life and education

Van Autreve was born in Eeklo, Belgium, on January 29, 1920.

Van Autreve attended George Washington University, University of Toledo, University of Maryland and Alaska Methodist University, and was a member of Phi Alpha Theta.

Military career

Van Autreve entered the United States Army in August 1941 from Delphos, Ohio. After basic training at Fort Belvoir, he served overseas with the 9th Infantry Division and participated in the invasion of Port Lyautey, Africa. He was discharged in August 1945 and enlisted again in March 1948. After a tour in Germany from 1950 to 1954, he served as an instructor with the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at the University of Toledo until 1958. From ROTC duty he was assigned to Continental Army Command Armor Board at Fort Knox, Kentucky, remaining there until reassignment to South Korea in 1960. Upon completion of his tour in South Korea, Van Autreve returned to Fort Belvoir and was promoted to sergeant major in 1962. He served as sergeant major of the 91st Engineer Battalion from 1962 until 1963.

From 1963 to 1964, Van Autreve was stationed in Indonesia, 1964 to 1967 in West Germany as sergeant major, 317th Engineer Battalion, and 1967 to 1969 in South Vietnam as sergeant major of the 20th Engineer Brigade. In July 1969 he was selected for assignment to Alaska as the command sergeant major, where he remained until he was selected as the Sergeant Major of the Army.

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 San Antonio, Texas.

Awards and decorations

Basic Parachutist Badge
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with award numeral 2
Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Presidential Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Commendation with oak leaf cluster
Army Good Conduct Medal with five silver loops
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Medal with six campaign stars and arrowhead device
World War II Victory Medal
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
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
10 Overseas Service Bars.
10 Service stripes.

[3]

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document: "http://www.army.mil/leaders/sma/former/sma_bio4.html".
The Sergeants Major of the Army, Daniel K. Elder, Center of Military History, United States Army Washington, D.C. 2003.

Military offices
Preceded by
Silas L. Copeland
Sergeant Major of the Army
1973–1975
Succeeded by
William G. Bainbridge
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