Walter E. Boomer

Infobox Military Person
name= Walter E. Boomer
born= Birth date and age|1938|9|22
died=
placeofbirth= Rich Square, North Carolina
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption= General Walter E. Boomer, USMC
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1960-1994
rank= General
commands= 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines 4th Marine Division U.S. Marine Forces Central Command I Marine Expeditionary Force Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Combat Development Command Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
unit=
battles= Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Desert Shield
awards= Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit Bronze Star (2)
laterwork= Rogers Corporation, CEO; McDermott International Inc, Exec. VP; Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group, President [cite web
url=http://www.baxter.com/about_baxter/company_profile/company_leadership/sub/boomer.html
title=Walter E. Boomer
publisher=Baxter U.S.
accessdate=2006-10-14]

General Walter E. Boomer (born 22 September 1938) is a retired former General and Assistant Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and business executive. Boomer led all Marines in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the Gulf War. [cite web|url=http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/timeline/fast_facts.htm
title=Fast Facts about Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm
accessdate=2006-10-14] He later served as the Chairman and CEO of Rogers Corporation, and retired in 2004. Boomer is a 1960 graduate of Duke University; he later earned a master's degree from American University.

Biography

Walter Boomer was born on 22 September 1938 in Rich Square, North Carolina and graduated from Randolph-Macon Academy, Front Royal, Virginia, in 1956. He earned a B.A. degree from Duke University in 1960, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He also holds a M.S. degree in Technology of Management from American University, Washington, D.C. (1973).

Marine Corps service

After completing The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia in January 1961, his first assignments were with the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines and the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, where he was platoon commander, weapons platoon commander and battalion training officer, respectively, from 1961-1964. He was promoted to first lieutenant in December 1961, and to captain in April 1965.

Captain Boomer saw combat action from 1966-1967 in the Republic of Vietnam as the Commanding Officer, Company H, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. During this combat tour, he won the Silver Star Medal for valor. Returning from overseas, 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, D.C., 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, Virginia.

In 1971, Major Boomer attended the Short Advisors Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 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 states in September 1972, he attended American University, receiving his M.S. degree in December 1973. The following month, he began a three-year tour as a management instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. 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, LtCol. 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, Rhode Island, graduating with distinction in June 1981.

He then assumed the duties 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.

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. General Boomer was 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. He served in this capacity until 6 September 1991. General Boomer reported to Quantico, Virginia, 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 1 September 1994.

General Boomer's medals and decorations include: the Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star Medal with gold star in lieu of a second award; Legion of Merit; two Bronze Stars with Combat "V";
Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V";
Combat Action Ribbon;
Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze star;
Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze stars;
Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze stars;
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal;
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star;
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal;
Vietnam Service Medal with bronze star;
Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze stars; The King Faisal Award, 2d Class;
Ordre National du Merite 4th Class;
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with silver and gold stars; Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross color with palm); Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions color);
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; and the
Kuwait Liberation Medal.

Post-Marine Corps career

After retiring from the Marine Corps, General Boomer served as Executive Vice President of McDermott International (1994-1996). He joined Rogers Corporation in 1997 as President. From 2002 to 2004, 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. [cite web
url=http://www.forbes.com/finance/mktguideapps/personinfo/FromMktGuideIdPersonTearsheet.jhtml?passedMktGuideId=123048
title=Walter Boomer Profile
publisher=Forbes.com
accessdate=2006-11-18]

ee also

Notes

ee also

References

:Marine Corps
*cite web|url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Boomer_WE.htm
title=General Walter E. Boomer, USMC (retired)
work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps
accessdate=2006-10-14
* [http://www.generalboomer.com/bio-boomer.htm General Walter Boomer, USMC (retired)] , FWA Consultants. (Biographical profile)