Leo Henry Schweiter was born in Wichita Kansas on April 16, 1917. Leo enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941. He then transferred to the 101st Airborne Division. While serving as Captain and Assistant Chief of Staff G-2 Intelligence Officer Schweiter took part in the Normandy airborne landings on June 6, 1944. During this time he was knocked unconscious by a grenade blast. Captain Schweiter was subsequently captured by the Germans but released a day later upon their retreat.
A veteran of Operation Market Garden, the Siege of Bastogne and the counter attack at Haguenau, Schweiter remained in service with the US Army after World War II.
Leo Henry Schweiter would go on to serve with the 7th Infantry Division during the Korean War. In 1959 he was named Chief of Staff of the 8th Infantry Division and later became Assistant Chief of Staff, G2, Headquarters, in the XVIII Airborne Corps.
During the Vietnam War, now Major General Schweiter, as Commanding General of the 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate), and Chief of Staff, Provisional Corps Vietnam and XXIV Corps was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for actions during the period August 1967 to December 1968.
Under his command, the Brigade engaged in numerous decisive combat operations against the forces of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army.
In 1969 Major General Schweiter became Deputy Commanding General of the Army Combat Developments Command at Ft. Belvoir Virginia, before becoming Chief of Staff of the Army in Vietnam until his retirement in May of 1972.
A recipient of the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Medals, Major General Leo Henry Schweiter passed away on August 23, 1972 at the age of 55 years old. He lies in rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
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