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First Name: Walter

Last Name: Boomer

Birthplace: Rich Square, NC, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Marines (present)



Middle Name: E.



Date of Birth: 22 September 1938



Rank: General

Years Served: 1960-1994
Walter E. Boomer

   
Engagements:
•  Vietnam War (1960 - 1973)
•  Gulf War (1990 - 1991)

Biography:

Walter E. Boomer
General, U.S. Marine Corps

Walter E. Boomer was born on 22 September 1938 in Rich Square, NC. In 1956, He graduated from Randolph-Macon Academy in Front Royal, VA. He earned a B.A. degree from Duke University in 1960, where he had been in the Naval Reserve Officers' Corps program. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps at graduation.

Marine Corps Service

After completing The Basic School at Quantico, VA, in January 1961, his first assignments were with the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines and the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune. He served as Platoon Commander; Weapons Platoon Commander; and Battalion Training Officer, respectively, from 1961-64. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in December 1961 and to Captain in April 1965.

Boomer saw combat action from 1966-67 in the Republic of Vietnam as the Commanding Officer, Company H, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. Returning to the U.S., he attended the Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico. Upon completion of school, he was promoted to Major in May 1968 and was transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, for duty as the Administrative Assistant and Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs. Following this assignment, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA.

In 1971, Boomer attended the Short Advisors Course at Fort Bragg, NC, in preparation for advisor duty with the South Vietnamese Marines. In August of that year, he returned to Vietnam as an advisor to a South Vietnamese Marine Infantry Battalion. While serving this tour of duty, he was involved in the Easter Offensive, North Vietnam's largest assault on the South.

Transferred back to the U.S. in September 1972, he attended American University where he received his Master of Science degree in Technology of Management in December 1973. The following month, he began a three-year tour as a management instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. During the last year of his tour, he was the Chairman of the Department of Management. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in September 1976.

From July 1977 to June 1980, Boomer was stationed in Hawaii, where he served as Executive Officer, 3rd Marines, 1st Marine Brigade, and then as Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines. Returning to the mainland in July 1980, he attended the Naval War College, Newport, RI, graduating with distinction in June 1981.

He then assumed duty as the Deputy Director of the Fourth Marine Corps District, Philadelphia. He was promoted to Colonel on 1 November 1981, and became the Director of the Fourth Marine Corps District on 17 June 1983.

Service as a General Officer

During February 1985, Colonel Boomer returned to Quantico to assume command of the Marine Security Guard Battalion. While serving in this capacity, he was selected in April 1986 for promotion to Brigadier general. He was advanced to that grade on 2 June 1986 and assigned duty as the Director of Public Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps on 7 June 1986. He served in this capacity until 27 May 1988, when he was assigned duty as the Commanding General, 4th Marine Division (Reinforced), FMF, New Orleans. On 14 March 1989, he was advanced to Major General; then, promoted to Lieutenant General on 8 August 1990.

On 15 August 1990, General Boomer deployed to Saudi Arabia, where he served as the Commanding General, U.S. Marine Forces Central Command and I Marine Expeditionary Force during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

On 22 April 1991, he returned to Camp Pendleton and assumed the duties of Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force/Commanding General, Marine Corps Base Pendleton. He served in this capacity until 6 September 1991. Boomer reported to Quantico, VA, on 27 September 1991, where he assumed duty as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command. He was promoted to General on 1 September 1992, and assumed his last duty assignment as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.

General Walter E. Boomer retired from the Marine Corps on 1 September 1994.

Medals and Awards

Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star w/ 1 Award Star
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star w/ Valor Device and 1 Award Star
Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ Valor Device
Combat Action Ribbon
Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 1 Service Star
Navy Unit Commendation w/ 2 Service Stars
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 2 Service Stars
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 Service Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal w/ 1 Service Star
Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 3 Service Stars
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Gold and Silver Stars
Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, 1st Class
King Faisal Award, 2d Class
Ordre national du Mérite, Officer Class
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

In Retirement

After retiring from the Marine Corps, General Boomer served as Executive Vice President of McDermott International (1994-96). He joined Rogers Corporation - an international specialty materials manufacturing company- in 1997 as President and CEO. From 2002-04, Boomer was Chairman of the Board of Rogers Corporation. Boomer current serves on the Board of Directors of Rogers Corporation, Cytyc Corporation, and Baxter International.



Honoree ID: 375   Created by: MHOH

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