19 December 2009
James Herbert Leach "Jimmie"
James Herbert (Jimmie) Leach Brigadier General James Herbert (Jimmie)
Leach, 87, of Lady's Island, S.C. died Thursday, December 17th 2009. General
Leach was born in Houston, Texas on April 7, 1922, the son of David W. Leach,
Jr. and Ellen Curry Leach, both of Houston, and the grandson of Sergeant D. W.
Leach of the 8th Louisiana Heavy Artillery, CSA.
General Leach entered the Texas National Guard in 1938. He attended Officer
Candidate School in 1942 after his unit was called to active duty, prior to
the Second World War. He served in General George Patton's famous 4th Armored
Division as a Company Commander of B Company, 37th Tank Battalion. He stayed
in the US Army as a career Army Officer rising to the rank of full Colonel. He
served in Korea and in Vietnam, where he was the 40th Commanding Officer of
the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. The Blackhorse Regiment. After having
moved to Beaufort, SC in 1986, the Adjudgent General of South Carolina
appointed Col. Leach to the post of Brigadier General in the SC Military
Department.
General Leach's Decorations include: -Distinguished Service Cross - for
Actions in France and Luxembourg during the Battle of the Bulge -Croix de
Guerre Luxembourg -Virtuti Militarie - Poland -Two Silver Star Medals awarded
during Viet Nam, the Legion of Merit -Two Bronze tar Medals with "V"
device and -Five Purple Heart Medals for wounds received during the Second
World War. -Honors include: OCS Hall of Fame, Ft. Benning, GA; First recipient
of the Order of St. George, US Armor Association.
Professor of Military History, Ft. Knox, Kentucky. President Military
Officers of America Association and President of the Veterans Cemetery
Committee of Beaufort (VCCOB) He was an undergraduate of the University of
Omaha, held a Master's degree in International Relations from Georgetown
University.
He is survived by his wife, Marion Hiers Floyd Leach, of Hampton, S.C. and
by his son, James H. Leach II (Jamie) & wife Annabelle of Palm Beach
Gardens, Florida and one granddaughter, Annabelle Virginia Leach of
Tallahassee, Florida. General Leach was a member of the Beaufort Presbyterian
Church, Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Beaufort Rotary Club, Thursday Club,
and Military Order of the Purple Heart.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 20th between 2 - 4 PM
the family residence, #9 Sussex Court, Lady's Island. A Memorial Service will
be held at 10:00 Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at the Beaufort Presbyterian
Church with burial following at the Beaufort National Cemetery at 11:30 AM.
Memorials or Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the: Patton Museum
FoundationP.O. Box 25Fort Knox, KY 40121-0025 or Army Historical Foundation
2425 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22201
