Louis C . Menetrey Louis Charles Menetrey ( August 19 , 1929 – January 14 , 2009 ) was a United States Army four - star general who served as Commander in Chief , United Nations Command / Commander in Chief , ROK / U . S . Combined Forces Command / Commander , United States Forces Korea / Commanding General , Eighth United States Army ( CINCUNC / CINCCFC / COMUSFK / CG EUSA ) from 1987 to 1990 . Military career . Menetrey was born on August 19 , 1929 in Hollywood , California to a Swiss immigrant father and American mother . After graduating from Hollywood High School , he enrolled in the University of California , graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in Political Science . While in college , he served in both the Navy and Army Reserve . He was commissioned in 1953 in the infantry . After completing the Infantry Basic course and Airborne and Ranger school , he served as a platoon leader , and later commanded four different companies ; most officers only command a company once . During this time he also served as a nuclear weapons test and evaluation officer and as a liaison officer involved in the planning for an invasion of Cuba . After promotion to major , he attended the Command and General Staff College , then went to Georgetown University and received a master ' s degree in International Affairs before being sent to the Armed Forces Staff College . Upon graduation he was chosen for early promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and received orders to Vietnam . In Vietnam , his first assignment was as Deputy chief of Staff of the 1st Cavalry Division , and then was given command of the 2nd Battalion , 28th Infantry , a unit that had been badly mauled by recent combat . After Vietnam , he attended the National War College , and then was assigned to the Office of the Coordinator of Army Studies , working for Vice Chief of Staff General William E . DePuy , and assisting in developing policies for transition to an all volunteer force . He was assigned next to the 101st Airborne Division as the G - 3 , then took command of the division ' s 2nd Brigade . While at Fort Campbell , he was selected for flag rank . His first assignment as a general officer was as Assistant Division Commander , 2nd Infantry Division , and during his time in that billet , the Axe Murder Incident , where U . S . Army officers were slain at Panmunjon , occurred . His next assignment was as Deputy Commander , Combined Arms Development Agency , where he helped lay the groundwork for the National Training Center . He was then picked for command of the 4th Infantry Division , followed by being Director of Requirements for the Army Staff . He was chosen to command the Combined Field Army in Korea , and then the Fifth United States Army , headquartered at Fort Sam Houston . He received his fourth star in 1987 , and took command of all U . S . forces in Korea . Post military career . Menetrey retired from the army in 1990 , living between Colorado Springs , Colorado and Marathon , Florida . He worked as a consultant . Gen . Menetrey died on January 14 , 2009 after an extended battle with Alzheimers Disease . He was survived by his wife , and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors .