James Herbert (Jimmie) Leach
| James Herbert (Jimmie) Leach | |
|---|---|
Leach at Arracourt, France in 2009
|
|
| Born |
April 7, 1922 Houston, Texas |
| Died | December 17, 2009 (aged 87) Beaufort, South Carolina |
| Buried | Beaufort National Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1938–1972 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands held | WWII: Company B, 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division Vietnam: 11th Armored Cavalry |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Jeju Uprising Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards |
 DSC Silver Star (3) Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star (2) with "V" Purple Heart (5) |
James Herbert Leach (April 7, 1922 – December 17, 2009) was a United States Army colonel who served as a tank company commander in World War II and an armored regiment commander in the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in World War II and three Silver Stars in Vietnam.
During World War II, in July 1944 and 1945, Leach (then a captain) served in combat under Lieutenant Colonel Creighton Abrams (Abrams tank) who commanded the 37th Tank Battalion of the 4th Armored Division, which beginning on August 1, 1944, joined and spearheaded for General George Patton and his Third Army. On June 28, after landing in Normandy on June 11 after D-Day (June 6) at Utah Beach, the 4th AD participated in Operation Cobra, which began the offensive out of Normandy and subsequent rapid advance across France, through the Lorraine Campaign and the Battle of the Bulge.
From May to September, 1948, Leach served as U.S. Army liaison to the government of South Korea on Jeju island at the beginning of the insurrection that has been termed the Jeju Uprising. Col. Leach later commanded the 11th Armored Cavalry as the 40th "Colonel of the Regiment" in South Vietnam from April–December, 1969 having taken command from Col. George Patton IV, son of his Third Army World War commander. As Chief of Armor Branch of the US Army in 1970-1972 he oversaw the careers of 3500 field-grade Army officers. As Chief, Col. Leach paid particular attention to the desire of battle-wounded officers to remain active in the Army. General Frederick M. Franks, Jr. credits Col. Leach with the critical role in maintaining his Army career and the career of other officers after Franks lost a foot in combat in Vietnam. Franks later led elements of Operation Desert Storm in the first Gulf War.
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