GENERAL LOUIS THEODORE SEITH
General Louis Theodore Seith is the chief of staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, with headquarters at Shape, Belgium.
General Seith was born in Quincy, Mass., in 1921, received his secondary education in San Diego, Calif., and graduated from Brown Military Academy, Pacific Beach, Calif., in 1938. He entered the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., in 1939, where he played varsity football and graduated with a bachelor of science degree and a commission as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. He attended flying school while at the academy and received his pilot wings in 1942.
After graduation he entered B-17 flight training and later joined the 483d Bombardment Group at Tampa, Fla. He commanded the 840th Bombardment Squadron when the group went to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, in March 1944, and became group operations officer in January 1945. He participated in the campaigns of Rome-Arno, Po Valley, Rhineland, North Apennines, Central Europe, Northern France, Southern France and Southern Europe. He flew 52 combat missions during his World War II service.
General Seith returned to the United States in August 1945 and was assigned to the U.S. Military Academy as a physics instructor. In 1948 he was assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., first as aide to Lieutenant General Elwood "Pete" Quesada and later as a member of the TAC staff. During this period he attended the Air Tactical School.
From July 1950 to August 1953, he was an aircraft accident investigator and flight safety research plans and policy officer with the deputy inspector general, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He left this assignment to attend the Air Command and Staff School which he completed in December 1953.
During the next three and one-half years, he served with the Far East Air Forces, first with the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron in Japan and later as director of fighter bomber operations, Headquarters Japan Air Defense Force. He ended the tour of duty in Japan as director of plans, Headquarters Fifth Air Force.
He joined the staff of the U.S. Air Force Academy in June 1957 as operations and training officer to the commandant of cadets, and became deputy commandant two years later. He left this assignment to attend the National War College, and following graduation in June 1961, he assumed command of the 414th Fighter Group, Oxnard Air Force Base, Calif. In July 1963 he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as deputy director of education and training in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff For Personnel. He returned to the U.S. Air Force Academy in July 1965 and was appointed commandant of cadets.
In December 1967 he became chief of staff, Headquarters Seventh Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Airfield, Republic of Vietnam. He assumed duties as deputy commander, Seventh Air Force/Thirteenth Air Force, in June 1968. General Seith became commander, U.S. Military Assistance Group, Thailand, and chief, Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group, Thailand, in May 1969.
General Seith joined the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in August 1971 as vice director, J-3 (operations), and in July 1972 was named director for plans and policy (J-5).
In August 1974 General Seith was assigned to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe as chief of staff.
His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Cross; Distinguished Service Medal (Air Force design) with two oak leaf clusters; Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster; Distinguished Flying Cross; Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal; Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem with oak leaf cluster; French Croix de Guerre with palm; from the Republic of Vietnam the Air Force Distinguished Service Order, 1st Class, and Air Gallantry Medal with Golden Wing; and from Thailand the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, Second Class-Knight Commander. He is a command pilot with more than 4,300 flying hours including 261 combat hours during World War II. He is a qualified parachutist, having completed the course in May 1966.
General Seith's hometown is Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
He was promoted to the grade of general effective Aug. 1, 1974, with same date of rank.
(Current as of Dec. 15, 1974)
General Seith was born in Quincy, Mass., in 1921, received his secondary education in San Diego, Calif., and graduated from Brown Military Academy, Pacific Beach, Calif., in 1938. He entered the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., in 1939, where he played varsity football and graduated with a bachelor of science degree and a commission as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. He attended flying school while at the academy and received his pilot wings in 1942.
After graduation he entered B-17 flight training and later joined the 483d Bombardment Group at Tampa, Fla. He commanded the 840th Bombardment Squadron when the group went to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, in March 1944, and became group operations officer in January 1945. He participated in the campaigns of Rome-Arno, Po Valley, Rhineland, North Apennines, Central Europe, Northern France, Southern France and Southern Europe. He flew 52 combat missions during his World War II service.
General Seith returned to the United States in August 1945 and was assigned to the U.S. Military Academy as a physics instructor. In 1948 he was assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., first as aide to Lieutenant General Elwood "Pete" Quesada and later as a member of the TAC staff. During this period he attended the Air Tactical School.
From July 1950 to August 1953, he was an aircraft accident investigator and flight safety research plans and policy officer with the deputy inspector general, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He left this assignment to attend the Air Command and Staff School which he completed in December 1953.
During the next three and one-half years, he served with the Far East Air Forces, first with the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron in Japan and later as director of fighter bomber operations, Headquarters Japan Air Defense Force. He ended the tour of duty in Japan as director of plans, Headquarters Fifth Air Force.
He joined the staff of the U.S. Air Force Academy in June 1957 as operations and training officer to the commandant of cadets, and became deputy commandant two years later. He left this assignment to attend the National War College, and following graduation in June 1961, he assumed command of the 414th Fighter Group, Oxnard Air Force Base, Calif. In July 1963 he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as deputy director of education and training in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff For Personnel. He returned to the U.S. Air Force Academy in July 1965 and was appointed commandant of cadets.
In December 1967 he became chief of staff, Headquarters Seventh Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Airfield, Republic of Vietnam. He assumed duties as deputy commander, Seventh Air Force/Thirteenth Air Force, in June 1968. General Seith became commander, U.S. Military Assistance Group, Thailand, and chief, Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group, Thailand, in May 1969.
General Seith joined the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in August 1971 as vice director, J-3 (operations), and in July 1972 was named director for plans and policy (J-5).
In August 1974 General Seith was assigned to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe as chief of staff.
His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Cross; Distinguished Service Medal (Air Force design) with two oak leaf clusters; Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster; Distinguished Flying Cross; Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal; Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem with oak leaf cluster; French Croix de Guerre with palm; from the Republic of Vietnam the Air Force Distinguished Service Order, 1st Class, and Air Gallantry Medal with Golden Wing; and from Thailand the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, Second Class-Knight Commander. He is a command pilot with more than 4,300 flying hours including 261 combat hours during World War II. He is a qualified parachutist, having completed the course in May 1966.
General Seith's hometown is Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
He was promoted to the grade of general effective Aug. 1, 1974, with same date of rank.
(Current as of Dec. 15, 1974)