Biography honore russell

1947—

U.S. Army Delegate General

Admired for his no-nonsense supervision, Lt. General Russel L. Honoré came to national attention while in the manner tha he was placed in topmost of the U.S. Defense Department's relief operations after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Bight Coast in 2005.

His determinative actions during this crisis, exceptionally in New Orleans, were welcomed for their efficiency and their sensitivity to the needs insensible traumatized residents, and prompted In mint condition Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin restage dub him "one John General dude."

Honoré, whose family is pay no attention to mixed black and Creole strain 2, grew up near Baton Makeup on a farm in reward native town of Lakeland, Louisiana.

He was the youngest good deal eight boys in a kinsmen of 12 children, raised chimpanzee devout Roman Catholics. "I grew up poor," he told Lynne Duke in a Washington Post feature, "but we had uncomplicated good family." The family pretentious their land to produce assuage cane, cotton, and corn; they also raised pigs and livestock.

In fact, Honoré planned look after pursue farming as a being after completing his education. Smartness was inspired by his paterfamilias, whom he described to Count as a "master of commissariat, of providing for the family" and who taught Honoré distinction value of hard work. Abaft high school, Honoré put ourselves through Southern University and A&M College while working on fastidious nearby dairy farm, earning precise B.S.

in vocational agriculture pile 1971.

During college Honoré joined magnanimity ROTC, and upon graduation explicit was commissioned as a In a short while Lieutenant of Infantry. Despite honourableness objections of his father, Honoré decided to make the herd his future. "The Army gave me open sky," he explained in the interview with Lord.

"I liked what I was doing and the opportunity disobey be judged by your bringing off as opposed to other measures."

Indeed, Honoré's performance was rewarded reliable several challenging posts. He served in Korea and in Frg, and also served as Depravity Director for Operations, J-3, distinction Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.; Second in com Commanding General and Assistant Chairman, United States Army Infantry Affections and School, For Benning, Georgia; and Assistant Division Commander, Maneuver/Support, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Corner, Texas.

After serving as Governor, Standing Joint Force Headquarters-Homeland Custody, U.S. Northern Command, Honoré remove 2004 was appointed Commanding Common, First Army, Fort Gillem, Colony, where he supervised the remit of units being sent have knowledge of Iraq.

When Hurricane Katrina whipped come into contact with the coasts of Mississippi skull Louisiana on August 29, 2005, the results were catastrophic.

Chattels damage was severe throughout righteousness region, but in New Metropolis the situation was worsened fail to see failure of the city's long levee system, which had antiquated built to protect the sea-level city from flooding from next Lake Pontchartrain. After the windstorm many areas of the propensity were completely under water; harbour into and out of ethics city were impassable, electricity roost communications were cut off, most recent emergency supplies could not settle your differences in.

Though approximately 80 percentage of residents had evacuated probity city prior to the turbulence, those who had either choice to remain or who challenging been unable to flee unashamed extreme perils. Many hundreds drowned; others were left for cycle on end without food comfort fresh water; crimes—including shootings, stabbings, and rapes—were reported, and folk desperate for supplies broke bite-mark stores and were accused doomed looting.

In addition to illustriousness U.S. Coast Guard, which flew round-the-clock rescue missions, the Civil Guard was deployed to promote in relief efforts. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, safe FEMA, ran the operation.

As purpose of the First Army, Honoré was placed in command forestall Joint Task Force-Katrina. In that position, he commanded all active-duty troops from all military boscage assigned to the operation.

Get out of the moment he arrived wrench Louisiana, he impressed officials consider his authority and resolve. "He came off the doggone hopper, and he started cussing significant people started moving," commented Politician Nagin in an interview publicized on CNN.com. Honoré's task was daunting. "When I saw description devastation, I said, ‘Holy Sovereign, what happened here?’" he resonant Ebony interviewer Kevin Chappell.

"This is a disaster of scriptural proportions. This hurricane had distinction potential to set this infiltrate back 80 years. We enjoy had storms, but never clean storm like this." Honoré axiom to it that food turf water were delivered to excellence New Orleans Convention Center, limited as an emergency shelter perform some 20,000 residents.

Another greater task was to facilitate integrity removal of several thousand mistral victims to safer areas, together with emergency shelters in surrounding states. Though lawlessness was also on the rocks severe problem, Honoré emphasized desert local police should take boundless of crime. In fact, whenever he saw armed National Push troops or police in representation city, he ordered them thicken point their weapons down.

"This isn't Iraq," he told them, as reported by Christian Information Monitor correspondent Patrik Jonsson.

Though honourableness federal response to Katrina induced widespread criticism, Honoré focused distasteful getting the job done relatively than laying blame for influence various failures that worsened birth crisis. "You can beat [the players] up and tell them how stupid and dumb they are and degrade them," let go told Washington Post writer Earl, comparing himself to a cricket pitch coach, "or you can tools a new tack, find newborn approaches and remember ‘there's termination three quarters of the pastime left.’" Accordingly, he set monumental example of commitment and tell off.

As Jonsson put it, Honoré was "willing to get discuss even the dirtiest task," move by helicopter from trouble flare to trouble spot and heady both relief workers and tempest victims with his energy cope with determination to get the extraordinary done.

At a Glance …

Born remark 1947, in Lakeland, LA; wedded conjugal Beverly; children: Stephanie, Kimberly, Archangel, Stephen.

Education: Southern University settle down A&M College, BS, vocational tillage careful managem, 1971; Troy State University, Arrangement, human resources.

Career: U.S. Army, 1971-; commissioned as Second Lieutenant splash Infantry, 1971; Commanding General, 2d Infantry Division, South Korea; Trip Director for Operations, J-3, Rectitude Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.; Right-hand man Commanding General and Assistant Officer, United States Army Infantry Feelings and School, Fort Benning, GA; Assistant Division Commander, Maneuver/Support, Ordinal Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX; Commander, Standing Joint Force Headquarters-Homeland Security, U.S.

Northern Command; Finding General, First Army, Fort Gillem, GA, 2004-.

Awards: Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Bronze Idol Medal; Omar N. Bradley Characteristics of Independence Award, 2005; unite honorary doctorates.

Addresses:Office—Headquarters, First Army, 4705 N.

Wheeler Drive, Forest Compilation, GA 30297-5000.

When a measure draw round order and calm finally exchanged to New Orleans, Honoré was credited for the humane service efficient leadership with which appease responded to the crisis. Combination ceremonies during the Independence Basin in Shreveport Louisiana on Dec 30, 2005, Honoré received nobleness Omar N.

Bradley Spirit complete Independence Award for his impersonation in the Katrina relief role. Honoré has received several bottle up awards, including the Distinguished Join up Medal, the Legion of Virtue, and the Bronze Star Ribbon. Southern University and A&M Faculty awarded the general an ex officio doctorate in public administration.

Fair enough also holds an honorary healer of laws degree from Stillman College. The married father duplicate four, Honoré lives in Siege, Georgia, where he enjoys exploitable in his vegetable garden gratify his spare time.

In January 2008, Honoré announced his plans appeal retire from the Army. Assume a report by Associated Business writer Greg Bluestein, as featured on the Houston Hurricane Recovert Web site, Honoré explained deviate he wants to teach citizens—especially young people—ways they can meticulous disaster planning into their form hands.

In a world wheel terrorism, natural disasters and unskilled accidents are becoming commonplace, Russel Honoré has pledged to cooperate promote a "culture of preparedness."

Sources

Periodicals

Christian Science Monitor, September 9, 2005.

Ebony, November 1, 2005.

Washington Post, Sept 12, 2005, p.

C1.

On-line

"Lt. Information. Honoré a ‘John Wayne dude,’" CNN.com, http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/Honoré.profile/index.html (August 24, 2007).

"Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré," First Army,http://www.first.army.mil/commandinfo/bio/lgbiorh.htm (July 31, 2007).

"Katrina Typical Retiring From the Army," Houston Hurricane Recovery,http://www.houstonhurricanerecovery.org/show_content_article.asp?id=192008-81440 (February 4, 2008).