Army Lt. Gen. Herbert R. Temple Jr., 21st National Guard Bureau Chief, Dies at 96

Retired Military Lt. Gen. Herbert R. Temple Jr., former chief of the Nationwide Guard Bureau, died Dec. 28. He was 96. 

Temple served because the CNGB from 1986 to 1990, capping 43 years of navy service. Throughout his time as chief, he was instrumental in shaping the Nationwide Guard of in the present day.

“One of many first calls I obtained once I grew to become chief was from Lt. Gen. Temple and it meant the world to me,” stated Air Pressure Gen. Steve Nordhaus, the thirtieth CNGB. “Lt. Gen. Temple was a common amongst generals and a pacesetter amongst leaders. He leaves behind an distinctive, extraordinary legacy and I’m so grateful for his help of the Nationwide Guard and his service to our nation.” 

Temple oversaw the Guard’s development to greater than 550,000 troopers and airmen and expanded the engagement of Guard items in operations worldwide. He additionally oversaw Military Nationwide Guard brigades endure common large-scale coaching rotations on the Nationwide Coaching Heart and was the driving drive behind the development of the Military Nationwide Guard headquarters constructing in Arlington, Virginia. 

In 2017, the constructing was renamed in his honor.  

“I had the chance to do the whole lot I, maybe, needed to do to enhance the Nationwide Guard,” Temple stated throughout the renaming ceremony. “I did not get all of it completed, however you guys did. You have made an amazing contribution and thanks from the underside of my coronary heart. Thanks for what you have completed to make the Nationwide Guard what it’s in the present day.” 

Temple was born in Los Angeles on Feb. 28, 1928. He graduated from Polytechnic Excessive College in 1947 earlier than enlisting within the one hundred and sixtieth Infantry Regiment, fortieth Infantry Division, California Military Nationwide Guard.  

In September 1950, he deployed to Korea, serving as a sergeant in Firm B, fifth Regimental Fight Workforce, twenty fourth Infantry Division. In the course of the warfare, Temple earned the Fight Infantryman Badge. In 1952, he returned to California and obtained a direct fee as a second lieutenant within the one hundred and sixtieth Infantry Regiment.  

“With a couple of strokes of a pen on an Military kind, Herb grew to become an officer,” retired Air Pressure Gen. Joseph Lengyel, the twenty eighth CNGB, stated in 2017. “That was fortunate for us as a result of the Nationwide Guard gained an amazing officer who would monumentally affect the Nationwide Guard.” 

Lengyel stated Temple’s dedication and management set the usual and offered the pathway to transitioning the Nationwide Guard to the operational reserve of the Military and the Air Pressure.  

“Herb made a dedication to by no means let Guard members undergo the identical experiences from lack of coaching, readiness and gear that he and his fellow troopers endured in Korea,” he stated.  

On Dec. 19, present and former Guard leaders devoted a show in honor of Temple within the ANG headquarters constructing that bears his identify.  

“He was a trailblazer, an actual drive of nature,” stated Military Lt. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs, the twenty third director of the ANG. “He set this nice group on a path to future success for which his successors are actually grateful. I do know I’m.”  

“After we stroll into this constructing, particularly our youthful troopers, we’ll get to see who this man, who this nice soldier, this nice officer, this nice chief, this distinctive common, who he was, who he’s, what he represented and what legacy he left,” Stubbs stated. 

Retired Military Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, the twenty ninth CNGB, spoke of his private experiences interacting with Temple. 

“Throughout my time as director of the Military Nationwide Guard after which as chief, he offered beneficial insights and historic views that had been in some ways timeless,” Hokanson stated. “He’s the form of man that from the minute you see him, hear his voice, you mechanically smile, since you are with each a good friend and a mentor on the similar time.” 

That had an amazing affect on Hokanson. 

“In his presence, you needed to face tall, sit straighter, totally recognize the glory of serving our nation and endeavor to do our best possible,” he stated. “As a result of with him, you had been with a real patriot, somebody we may all be taught from, and we’re blessed to grow to be higher troopers and folks.”

Temple served in a variety of command and employees positions within the California ANG earlier than being assigned to the NGB in 1975 because the chief of the Workplace of Mobilization and Readiness. In 1978, he was named the deputy director of the Military Nationwide Guard after which director in 1982. Following his tenure because the twenty first CNGB, Temple retired from the Military on Feb. 1, 1990, after over 43 years of service. 

“It should be apparent that standing earlier than you in the present day, is an outdated man, a really outdated man,” Temple stated in 2017 when the Military Guard constructing was devoted to him. “If in my final time on Earth, I am nonetheless cognizant and I can nonetheless image issues, I imagine that I’ll consider a lot of you. I am going to hear your voices. I am going to bear in mind our occasions collectively and within the remaining moments, it is going to be the Guard, the Guard, the Guard.”