Over a 33-year career that saw him rise to the position of Commanding General, Marine Forces Reserve, MajGen Livingston has exemplified the best the Marine Corps stands for. While he certainly carried himself well in his early assignments following his commissioning as an officer—after earning his degree from Auburn University—it was in Vietnam, with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, where he carried himself with gallant distinction when it mattered most.

Early in the morning on May 2, 1968, after receiving pre–dawn orders to make an attack against a well-entrenched NVA battalion in the village of Dai Do (Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam)—which had already pinned down Golf Company, led by Col (then Cpt) Jay R. Vargas, USMC (Ret), also eventually awarded the Medal of Honor—MajGen (then Cpt) Livingston formulated his own company-level assault plan and led Echo Company, across 500 meters of open rice paddies, with approximately 100 mutually supporting NVA bunkers ready to defend against the assault throughout the village.

For context, about that time, the NVA had been readying to make a large assault against the Combat Base and Supply Ramp at Dong Ha—which directly supported Marine Corps forces operating along the DMZ in I Corps. Furthermore, this supply base served as the HQ for the 3rd Marine Division, and housed a dozen battalions of field artillery—a truly strategic installation.

After calling upon his 180 Marines to “fix bayonets,” MajGen Livingston boldly led Echo Company across the open terrain, eliminating roughly 500 NVA, with only 35 of his Marines still combat-effective following the assault. With the NVA defenders facing the prospect of being overrun by the advancing Marines, the action was incredibly close and fierce, with the enemy facing a most critical fight. Still, despite the casualties already inflicted upon the Marines prior to Echo’s assault, and the immediate losses incurred at the beginning of the assault, MajGen Livingston and Echo prevailed in capturing their objective.

By the end of the battle, MajGen Livingston had sustained multiple grenade fragment wounds, a grazing rifle wound to the forehead, and ultimately, a severe gunshot wound to the leg from an enemy .50-caliber antiaircraft gun. MajGen Livingston's significant wounding only came after having elected to come to the aid of Hotel Company (who had proceeded forward through the village, around the left flank of Echo). As a testament to his leadership, MajGen Livingston's remaining 35 Marines voluntarily joined him as he endeavored to support Hotel’s flanking attack.

While supervising the withdrawal of his wounded Marines—making sure to leave no man behind—he refused to be evacuated from the battlefield until he had properly accounted for his remaining 2/4 Marines.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, MajGen Livingston was awarded the Medal of Honor on May 14, 1970, alongside Col Vargas of Golf Company.

Today, MajGen Livingston continues serving Marines, the Marine Corps, the Medal of Honor community, and the nation—thus embodying the values of both the Medal of Honor and the Marine Corps everyday.

Produced with the generous support of
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society