James E. Livingston

James Everett Livingston (born January 12, 1940) is a retired United States Marine major general. He was awarded the United States' highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for heroic actions in 1968 during the Vietnam War. Livingston served on active duty in the Marine Corps over 33 years before retiring on September 1, 1995. His last assignment was the Commanding General of Marine Forces Reserve in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Early life James Livingston was born on January 12, 1940, in Towns, Georgia, the son of Ruth and Myret Livingston. Growing up, he and his brother helped his parents work their 3,000-acre farm. His next assignment was before the Joint United States Assistance Group in the Republic of the Philippines.

Following advancement to brigadier general on June 10, 1988, Livingston served as Deputy Director for Operations at the National Military Command Center in Washington, D.C. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Livingston commanded the Marine Air Ground Combat Center, 29 Palms, California and developed the Desert Warfare Training Program. After command of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, he was advanced to major general on July 8, 1991, and assumed command of the 4th Marine Division. In July 1992, he assumed command of the newly created Marine Reserve Force, and continued through its reorganization in October 1994, with its new title, "Marine Forces Reserve".

Livingston is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the Air War College.

Retirement Retired MajGen James E. Livingston, age 85, Medal of Honor recipient and first commander of Marine Forces Reserves visits Marine Corps Support Facility, New Orleans, May 30, 2025. In retirement, Livingston serves on the board of trustees of the National World War II Museum.

Livingston wrote his autobiography, Noble Warrior: The Story of Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston, Medal of Honor, with historians Colin D. Heaton and Anne-Marie Lewis. It was placed on the Commandant of the Marine Corps reading list in 2011.

On November 6, 2007, the Fred Thompson presidential campaign announced that Livingston would serve as the National Co-Chair of Veterans for Fred Thompson.

In the 2016 presidential election, Livingston was a political supporter of Jeb Bush, and Co-Chair of National Veterans for Jeb. In November 2015, he was featured in an ad called "Honor" in which he referred to President Barack Obama as a "Commander-in-Chief [who] requires training wheels."

In the 2020 presidential election, Livingston endorsed Donald Trump in a letter with dozens of other flag officers stating that a Biden presidency would lead to in influence of the government by "socialists and Marxists". In October 2024, Livingston joined 15 other Medal of Honor recipients in publicly endorsing Donald Trump for president.

Military awards Livingston's decorations and awards include:

Medal of Honor citation The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to CAPTAIN JAMES E. LIVINGSTON UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

Honors On November 19, 1993, the State of Georgia dedicated a historical marker in Lumber City, Georgia, honoring Livingston and his Medal of Honor actions.