Lansdale, Edward Geary, 1908-1987

Air Force officer, government official.

From the description of Reminiscences of Edward G. Lansdale : oral history, 1970. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122587418

Edward G. Lansdale (b. 1908, Detroit, Michigan-d. Feb. 23, 1987), U.S. Air Force officer, served with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II and in 1943 was commissioned in the U.S. Army, serving in various military intelligence assignments throughout the War. In 1945 he transferred to Headquarters Air Force Western Pacific and became chief of the Intelligence Division, remaining in the Philippines until 1948. He had been commissioned a captain in the Air Force in 1947, and after a stint as instructor at the Strategic Intelligence School, he transferred to Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group in the Philippines in 1950. In the early 1950s he acted as advisor to the French forces in Indo-China and, later, as advisor to the Vietnamese Armed Forces and the Vietnamese Government. In 1961, General Lansdale was appointed assistant to the Secretary of Defense. He retired in 1963.

From the description of Lansdale, Edward Geary, 1908-1987 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10572401

Major general, United States Air Force; special assistant to the United States ambassador to South Vietnam, 1965-1967.

From the description of Edward Geary Lansdale papers, 1910-1987. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 754871657

Biographical Note

• 1908, February 6: Born, Detroit, Michigan
• World War II: Served with the O.S.S.
• 1943: Promoted to Lieutenant, U.S. Army. Served in military intelligence for duration of war.
• 1945 - 1948 : Promoted to Major. Transferred to Philippines, AFWESPAC. Appointed Chief of Intelligence Division. Extended stay in Philippines at AFWESPAC and PHILRYCOM; helped Philippine Army rebuild its Intelligence Services.
• 1947: Commissioned as a Captain in the Air Force, temporary rank of Major.
• 1948: Instructor, Strategic Intelligence School, Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado.
• 1949: Temporary promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.
• 1950: At the request of President Elpidio Quirino, transferred to JUSMAG in the Philippines to advise Philippine Army Intelligence Services in fight against the Huks (Communists). Met Ramon Magsaysay, Philippine Secretary of National Defense; became close friends. Assisted in development of psychological operations, civic actions, rehabilitation of Huk prisoners, and other programs.
• 1951: Temporary promotion to Colonel.
• 1953: Member of General J.W. "Iron Mike" O'Daniel's mission to the French forces in Indochina; acted as an advisor on special counter-guerrilla operations.
• 1954 - 1956 : Transferred to Saigon, served with MAAG-Vietnam until end of 1956. Helped advise Vietnamese government and armed forces on problems of internal security, including pacification program (1954-55), psychological operations, intelligence, and integration of sect armies. Became close associate of President Ngo Dinh Diem.
• 1957: Went to office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington; became Deputy Assistant Secretary for special operations.
• 1959: Staff member of President's Committee on Military Assistance (Draper Committee).
• 1960: Temporary promotion to Brigadier General.
• 1961: Became Assistant Secretary of Defense for special operations.
• 1963: Temporary promotion to Major General.
• 1963 October 31: Retired; awarded Distinguished Service Medal (second time) for counter-insurgency work. Became consultant to director of Food For Peace, White House.
• 1965 - 1967 : Returned to South Vietnam as Senior Liaison Officer of the U.S. Mission to South Vietnam, appointed by Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge. Also appointed Minister by President Johnson. Staff became the "Senior Liaison Office" (SLO). Work involved winning support in Vietnamese countryside.
• 1967 - 1968 : Assistant to Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker, U.S. Mission to South Vietnam.
• 1972: Author, The Midst Of Wars
• 1987, February 23: Died, McLean, Virginia

From the guide to the Edward Geary Lansdale Papers, 1910-1987, (Hoover Institution Archives)