Leon L. Van Autreve

Leon L. Van Autreve
Sergeant Major of the Army Leon L. Van Autreve
Born	(1920-01-29)January 29, 1920 Eeklo, Belgium
Died	March 14, 2002(2002-03-14) (aged 82) San Antonio, Texas, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1941–1945 1948–1975
Rank	Sergeant Major of the Army
Battles / wars	World War II Vietnam War
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Soldier's Medal Bronze Star Medal (2) Air Medal (2) Army Commendation Medal (4)

Leon L. Van Autreve (January 29, 1920 – March 14, 2002) was a United States Army soldier who served as the fourth Sergeant Major of the Army. He was sworn in on July 1, 1973, and served until June 1975.

Early life and education

Van Autreve was born in Eeklo, Belgium, on January 29, 1920.

Van Autreve attended George Washington University, University of Toledo, University of Maryland and Alaska Methodist University, and was a member of Phi Alpha Theta.

Military career

Van Autreve entered the United States Army in August 1941 from Delphos, Ohio. After basic training at Fort Belvoir, he served overseas with the 9th Infantry Division and participated in the invasion of Port Lyautey, Morocco. He was discharged in August 1945 and enlisted again in March 1948. After a tour in Germany from 1950 to 1954, he served as an instructor with the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at the University of Toledo until 1958. From ROTC duty he was assigned to Continental Army Command Armor Board at Fort Knox, Kentucky, remaining there until reassignment to South Korea in 1960. Upon completion of his tour in South Korea, Van Autreve returned to Fort Belvoir and was promoted to sergeant major in 1962. He served as sergeant major of the 91st Engineer Battalion from 1962 until 1963.

From 1963 to 1964, Van Autreve was stationed in Indonesia, 1964 to 1967 in West Germany as sergeant major, 317th Engineer Battalion, and 1967 to 1969 in South Vietnam as sergeant major of the 20th Engineer Brigade. In July 1969 he was selected for assignment to Alaska as the command sergeant major, where he remained until he was selected as the Sergeant Major of the Army.

Sergeant Major of the Army

Van Autreve saw increasing the standards of the army's non-commissioned officer (NCO) corps as his highest priority. As part of the rejuvenation of the NCO Corps, Van Autreve gave NCOs more voice in command decisions, reduced the army's reliance on soldiers' councils, increased professional standards for NCOs, developed the Noncommissioned Officer Education System, and encouraged NCOs to have the moral courage to police their own ranks.

Later life and legacy

In 1994, the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club designated Fort Sam Houston, Texas, as the SMA Van Autreve Chapter.

Van Autreve died on March 14, 2002, in San Antonio, Texas.

Awards and decorations

Basic Parachutist Badge

	Army Distinguished Service Medal
	Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
	Soldier's Medal
	Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Air Medal with award numeral 2
	Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
	Presidential Unit Citation
	Meritorious Unit Commendation with oak leaf cluster
	Army Good Conduct Medal with five silver loops
	American Defense Service Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Medal with six campaign stars and arrowhead device
	World War II Victory Medal
	Army of Occupation Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Vietnam Service Medal with six campaign stars
	Armed Forces Reserve Medal
	Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation
	Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
	10 Overseas Service Bars.
	10 Service stripes.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army
The Sergeants Major of the Army, Daniel K. Elder, Center of Military History, United States Army Washington, D.C. 2003.