Lawrence H. Livingston

November 5, 1940 – September 28, 2018

Born on November 5, 1940, in Defiance, Ohio, he attended Defiance College prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1960 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. Private First Class Lawrence H. Livingston was initially assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In late 1966, he was transferred to the 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam, where he served as Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Platoon Commander and Company Gunnery Sergeant. Ordered to Officer Candidates School, Quantico, Virginia, after the TET Offensive in 1968, then a Staff Sergeant, he was commissioned via the Meritorious NCO Program. Upon completion of The Basic School in 1968, he was assigned to the 5th Marine Division, 5th MEB, and 3rd Marine Division, where he served as a Platoon Commander.

Reassigned to the Basic Infantry Battalion in 1970, he served as a Mortar Platoon Commander, Company Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer, respectively. Subsequently, he served as the first Operations Officer in the newly formed Infantry Training School. Promoted to Captain in April 1971, he returned to the Republic of Vietnam, as an Infantry Advisor to the 1st Battalion, Vietnamese Marine Corps and advisor to the Vietnamese Marine Corps Training Center. Upon completion of his advisory tour, he attended the Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, graduating in June 1973.

General Livingston was assigned to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, as Company Commander and Battalion and Regimental Operations Officer. He attended Chapman College and received a B.A. degree in both Economics and Business Administration.

In late 1976, he was assigned to the 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, where he served as Company Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer. He was subsequently reassigned to Director of Division Schools. During this tour, he was promoted to Major in July 1978.

Upon completion of the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia, in 1980, General Livingston was assigned to MCCDC, Quantico, where he served as Tactics Group Chief and Operations Officer of The Basic School until May 1983. His next assignment was Operations Officer, Marine Aircraft Group 15, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in October 1983.

Ordered to the 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, upon completion of his exchange assignment, he served briefly as Regimental Executive Officer of the 6th Marine Regiment and then two years as Commanding Officer of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines which deployed to Europe as part of the first special operations capable 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC).

From 1986 to 1987, he was a student at the National War College in Washington, D.C. He was next assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, where he served as Head of both the Joint Strategic Planning Branch and the Eastern Regional Branch of the Plans Division. While at Headquarters, he was promoted to Colonel in September 1989. He was assigned duty as the Commanding Officer, 6th Marines at Camp Lejeune in 1990. His regiment spearheaded the assault into Kuwait and the recapture of Kuwait City for the 2nd Marine Division during Operation Desert Storm. While serving in this capacity, he was selected in December 1991 for promotion to Brigadier General. General Livingston was assigned duty as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Force Structure Implementation, Plans, Policies and Operations Department, Headquarters, Marine Corps in February 1992. He assumed duties as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in July 1992. He was advanced to his final grade in February 1995. He assumed his last assignment in June 1995 as the Commanding General, 2nd Marine Division, Marine Forces, Atlantic, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Major General Lawrence H. Livingston retired from the United States Marine Corps January 1, 1998.

His personal decorations include: the Navy Cross; Silver Star Medal; Legion of Merit with Combat “V” and one gold star; Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and three gold stars; Purple Heart with four gold stars; Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V"; Combat Action Ribbon with one gold star; Good Conduct Medal; Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal First Class; and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with two silver stars and one bronze star.

After 38 years of service, Major General Livingston transitioned to civilian life where he worked as a senior executive of an aerospace firm before retiring to his avocado ranch in Bonsall, California. Five decades after leaving his hometown of Defiance to join the Marine Corps, he returned deeply humbled to be permanently honored as one of northwest Ohio’s most highly decorated combat veterans. In a special patriotic dedication ceremony on June 26, 2010, in his hometown of Defiance, the beautiful scenic river road Defiance County Road 424 was designated "Major General Lawrence H. Livingston Highway".

Lawrence Livingston passed away on September 28, 2018, while surrounded by his family. He is survived by Karen, his bride of 48 years, two sons and a daughter; Laurence (Kana), Michael (Abby), and Jessica; five grandchildren as well as his uncle George (Ann) Essex, aunt Nancy Nischwitz Essex, sisters Marie, Rose (Jim), and Carol, brothers Mike (Debby) and Leroy (Toni), many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends around the world.

A funeral service honoring Major General Livingston will be held at the North Chapel - Liberty Station, Point Loma, California, on Monday, November 5, 2018, at 11:30am. Full Military Honors ceremony will be held at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery beginning at 1:30pm. Family and friends will gather at the Bay View Restaurant at Marine Corps Recruiting Depot San Diego after the services to celebrate his life and legacy.

A memorial service honoring Major General Lawrence Livingston will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 671 Clinton St., Defiance, Ohio, on Saturday, November 10, 2018, at 10am. A reception will follow the service at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3360, Defiance, Ohio.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contribution to one of the following organizations: San Diego Fisher House https://www.sandiegofisherhouse.org/contribute.html, Disabled American Veterans https://www.dav.org/, Marines Memorial Association, https://marinesmemorial.org/ways-to-give/, VFW Post 3360, 201 Clinton St. Defiance, OH 43512-2111 Phone: (419) 782-2756.