Episode #35: Top 4 Ways to Lead Like a General with BGen Thomas Draude USMC Retired & President/CEO of Marine Corps University Foundation

Brigadier General Thomas V. Draude retired from the Marine Corps on January 1, 1993.

General Draude was born on April 25, 1940 in Kankakee, Illinois. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps upon graduation with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1962. He also holds a Master of Military Arts and Science degree from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Early assignments included service with the lst and 3d Marine Divisions in Camp Pendleton, Okinawa, and twice in Vietnam; instructor at the U.S. Army Center for Special Warfare, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; honor graduate from the Amphibious Warfare School; graduate of the Marine Advisor Course; Advisor to the Vietnamese Marines in III and IV Corps of Vietnam and in Cambodia.

After Vietnam, his principal assignments were:

– Company Officer and Brigade Performance Officer, U.S. Naval Academy
– Commanding Officer, Marine Security Guards in Europe
– Honor Graduate, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
– Executive Officer, lst Bn, 5th Marines and S-4, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
– Plans Officer, III Marine Amphibious Force (Okinawa) and Headquarters Marine Corps
– Student, National War College
– Operations Officer, Force Inspector, and Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, FMF Pacific
– G-3, 1st Marine Division and Commanding Officer, 5th Marines
– Secretary of the General Staff, HQMC

Following advancement to brigadier general in October 1989, General Draude’s assignments have been:

– Director of the Defense Management Report Implementation Coordination Office under the Deputy Secretary of Defense
– Assistant Division Commander, lst Marine Division, during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait where he served concurrently as the I MEF deception officer.

He assumed duty as Director of Public Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. on July 5, 1991, and also was a member of the Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces. He retired from the Marine Corps on Jan. 1, 1993.

His medals and decorations include: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star Medal with gold star in lieu of a second award; Legion of Merit with Combat “V”; Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”; Purple Heart; Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of a second award; Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”; Army Commendation Medal; Combat Action Ribbon; two Presidential Unit Citations; four Navy Unit Commendations; Meritorious Unit Commendation; National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star; Vietnam Service Medal with one silver star and three bronze stars; Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one bronze star; Overseas Service Ribbon; Marine Security Guard Ribbon; Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Bronze Star; Vietnam Honor Medal, First Class; Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citations (Gallantry Cross Medal with Palm and Civil Action Medal, First Class with Palm); Vietnam Campaign Medal; Kuwait Liberation Medal(Saudi Arabia); and the Liberation Medal (Kuwait).

As assistant 1^st Marine Division Commander in Desert shield/storm while planning an amphibious invasion of Kuwait that would have been costly in lives due to mines and fortifications, a General in the room said we must have an amphibious landing for the political future of the Marine Corps.  General Draude responded “If we are willing to risk life and limb for the political future of the Marine Corps then we are not worth the stars we are wearing on our collars”.  It was decided then that they would give the appearance of an amphibious landing (a feint) and General Draude was appointed the Deception Officer for the division.