Russel L. Honoré

Russel Honoré
Nickname(s)"The Ragin' Cajun"
Born (1947-09-15) September 15, 1947
Lakeland, Louisiana, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
Years of service1971–2008
Rank Lieutenant general
CommandsFirst Army
2nd Infantry Division
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (5)
Websitewww.generalhonore.com

Russel Luke Honoré (/ˈɒnəreɪ/ ON-ər-ay; born September 15, 1947) is a retired lieutenant general of the United States Army. He served as the 33rd commanding general of the U.S. First Army at Fort Gillem, Georgia, from 2004 until his retirement in 2008.[1][2][3]

Honoré is a native of Louisiana, best known for his role as the commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, the military relief effort for the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. His direct and often blunt leadership style during the crisis drew widespread media attention and praise, with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin referring to him as a "John Wayne dude".[4]

After retiring from the military, Honoré has been involved in political commentary and disaster preparedness advocacy. He has led environmental activism in Louisiana through his organization, the GreenARMY.[5] In 2021, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi appointed Honoré to lead a review of security at the U.S. Capitol following the January 6 attack.[6]

Early life and education

Honoré is a native of Lakeland in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, and 9th of 12 children, born to a Louisiana Creole family who settled in Pointe Coupée Parish.[7] The Honoré surname is documented as one of the foundational family names of the Cane River Creole community. The historian Gary B. Mills, a leading scholar on Louisiana Creoles, specifically lists the Honoré family among the core group of "free people of color" who settled in the Cane River's Isle Brevelle community.[8]

Honoré earned a B.S. in vocational agriculture from Southern University and A&M College in 1971. He also holds an M.A. in human resources from Troy University as well as an honorary D.P.A. from Southern University and A&M College.[9][10] He has received leadership development training from the international civilian Center for Creative Leadership.[11]

Career

Prior to his appointment on July 15, 2004, as Commander, First United States Army, Honoré served in a variety of command and staff positions in South Korea and Germany. He served as Commanding General, 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea; Vice Director for Operations, J-3, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.; Deputy Commanding General and Assistant Commandant, United States Army Infantry Center and School, Fort Benning, Georgia; and Assistant Division Commander, Maneuver/Support, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.[9]

On June 13, 2002, in South Korea, soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division were on a training mission near the North Korean border when their vehicle hit and killed two 14-year-old girls on a narrow public road.[12] In July 2002, the U.S. military indicted Sgt. Mark Walker and Sgt. Fernando Nino on charges of negligent homicide.[13] They were later found not guilty. Honoré (then a major general) responded by visiting the victims' parents and promising the U.S. military would build a memorial near the accident site to honor the girls.[14]

On January 15, 2021, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced that Honoré would lead a review of security failures following the U.S. Capitol attack that will focus on "security infrastructure, interagency processes and procedures, and command and control".[15][16]

Hurricane response

On August 31, 2005, Honoré was designated commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, responsible for coordinating military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina-affected areas across the Gulf Coast. His arrival in New Orleans followed widespread criticism of the slow and inadequate response by local, state, and federal authorities.[17] The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its director, Michael D. Brown, were specifically criticized for the agency's performance.[18]

Honoré's direct leadership style drew national attention. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin praised him in a radio interview, stating, "I give the president some credit on this—he sent one John Wayne dude down here that can get some stuff done, and his name is Gen. Honoré. And he came off the doggone chopper, and he started cussing and people started moving."[19] On September 20, 2005, at a press conference, Honoré told a reporter "You are stuck on stupid. I'm not going to answer that question." in reference to a hypothetical comparison to the Los Angeles riots of 1992.[20] In one widely played video clip, Honoré was on the streets of New Orleans, barking orders to subordinates and, in one case, berating local police officers who were displaying their weapons as they rode past him. "Weapons down! Weapons down, damn it!" Honoré shouted.[21]

Stars and Stripes, the unofficial newspaper of the United States Armed Forces, reported that Honoré had previous experience dealing with flooding at many South Korean bases during monsoon season and supervised the installation of flood control measures.[22] After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, Honoré described the situation in the U.S. territory as being "like a war" and said it was significantly worse than New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina.[23] Honoré criticized the Trump administration's response to the crisis, saying it demanded a greater and more rapid response, with a larger commitment of U.S. troops to provide emergency assistance,[24] and told CNN anchor Erin Burnett.

U.S. Capitol attack security review

As a result of the 2021 United States Capitol attack, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on January 15, 2021, that Honoré would lead an investigation into the incident.[25] He suggested that fencing should be installed and discussed shortcomings in security.[26] He was vocal on Twitter about the response of the United States Capitol Police officers, calling it a "shit show".[27]

In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi by Representative Matt Gaetz, he was criticized for statements he made in regard to certain members of Congress, specifically for Senator Josh Hawley to be "run out of D.C." and Representative Lauren Boebert needing to be put on a no fly list.[28][29]

Politics

In late August 2009, there were reports that Honoré would run for U.S. Senate in 2010 in his native Louisiana as a Republican against incumbent Republican Senator David Vitter.[30] On August 31, when asked on CNN about the reports, Honoré expressed admiration for individuals who aspire to serve in public office but said that he had no plans to seek the Senate seat, as he was unlikely to win with the viewpoints he currently holds.

Personal life

Honoré describes himself as an "African-American Creole", a combination that includes French, African, Native American and Spanish ancestry.[31] He was raised Catholic.[32][33]

Honoré resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with his wife, Beverly, and their four children.[32] He founded the GreenARMY, an environmental coalition focused on Louisiana.[34] He has criticized excessive groundwater use by ExxonMobil and Georgia-Pacific in Baton Rouge, and their close relationship with the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission that oversees and regulates water use by these corporations.[35]

Recognition

During the halftime of the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana, on December 30, 2005, he was honored with the Omar N. Bradley "Spirit of Independence Award" because of his leadership in the recovery of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.[36] On the third anniversary of the storm, he was honored with a tribute at the New Orleans City Council for his service to the city.[37]

His military awards and decorations include:[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Martin, Michel (29 August 2007). "Wisdom Watch: Lt. Gen. Russel Honore". NPR. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  2. ^ Honoré, Russel (May 5, 2009). Survival: How a Culture of Preparedness Can Save You and Your Family from Disasters. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781439101810. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  3. ^ Andrews, Dianne (2010-08-17). Gumbo for the Heart. Author House. ISBN 978-1-4520-3204-7.
  4. ^ "Transcript: New Orleans' Mayor C. Ray Nagin's Interview". Jackson Free Press. Archived from the original on May 18, 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  5. ^ "About Us". The GreenARMY. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  6. ^ Muller, Wesley (January 15, 2021). "Louisiana-native Gen. Russel Honoré to investigate security failures at U.S. Capitol". Louisiana Illuminator. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  7. ^ Honoré, Russel L.; Martz, Ron (2009), Survival: How a Culture of Preparedness Can Save You and Your Family from Disasters, Simon and Schuster, p. 26, ISBN 9781416599005, retrieved 10 June 2015
  8. ^ Mills, Gary B. (2000). "The Crèoles of Isle Brevelle". In Kein, Sybil (ed.). Creole: The History and Legacy of Louisiana's Free People of Color. Louisiana State University Press. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-8071-2601-1. The families who formed the core of the new settlement were those of the mulattoes Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer and Nicolas Augustin Metoyer and their black wives, and those of a handfull of other free men of color who married into the family, among them the LeVasseurs, Rachals, Chelettes, Grillets, and Honorés.
  9. ^ a b c "Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré". General Officer Management Office, U.S. Army. Archived from the original on March 25, 2024. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  10. ^ "Southern University to honor retired Lt. General Russel Honoré". Southern University and A&M College. May 8, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  11. ^ "Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré". General Officer Management Office, U.S. Army. Archived from the original on March 25, 2024. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  12. ^ Brooke, James (November 23, 2002). "G.I.'s Are Cleared in Deaths of 2 Korean Girls". The New York Times. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  13. ^ "2nd ID soldiers charged with negligent homicide in girls' deaths". Stars and Stripes. July 5, 2002. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  14. ^ Kirk, Don; Brooke, James (November 27, 2002). "U.S. Apologizes To Koreans For GIs' Acquittal". The New York Times. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  15. ^ Muller, Wesley (January 15, 2021). "Louisiana-native Gen. Russel Honoré to investigate security failures at U.S. Capitol". Louisiana Illuminator. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  16. ^ Choi, Joseph (January 17, 2021). "Retired Army general: 'We can't have demonstrators showing up at a state Capitol with damn long guns'". Blaze News.
  17. ^ Luo, Michael; Lipton, Eric (September 5, 2005). "Storm and Crisis: The Government; Response to Storm Was Slower Than to Past Disasters". The New York Times. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  18. ^ Glasser, Susan B.; Gowen, Annie (September 11, 2005). "The Steady Buildup to a Failure to Act". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  19. ^ "Transcript: New Orleans' Mayor C. Ray Nagin's Interview". Jackson Free Press. Archived from the original on May 18, 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  20. ^ "General Who Told Off Reporter in Katrina Aftermath Reflects". Fox News. August 29, 2006. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  21. ^ "NOLA's Superdome: From devastation to recovery". CBS News. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Katrina response reminiscent of Korea duty for Honore". Stars and Stripes. September 7, 2005. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  23. ^ "Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, who led Katrina relief, slams response to Puerto Rico". CBS News. September 29, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  24. ^ "Puerto Rico Relief Effort Replays Scene From Katrina, Retired General Says". National Public Radio. September 28, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  25. ^ "Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré to head investigation of Capitol riot". CNBC. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  26. ^ "Retired Lt. General Honoré discusses why threats to the Capitol were ignored". CNBC. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  27. ^ "Pelosi tasks retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré with leading review of Capitol security". National Broadcasting Corporation. January 15, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  28. ^ "Matt Gaetz leads GOP charge against "bigot" Russel Honoré, head of Capitol security review". Newsweek. 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  29. ^ @JudiciaryGOP (2021-03-02). "🚨 #Breaking: @RepMattGaetz, and Judiciary Committee Republicans, blast @SpeakerPelosi's appointment of LTG Russel H…" (Tweet). Retrieved 2021-12-05 – via Twitter.
  30. ^ "General Russell Honore To Run Vs David Vitter In Louisiana US Race?". Archived from the original on September 1, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  31. ^ "Katrina: The Aftermath: First Army's 'Ragin' Cajun'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. September 14, 2005.
  32. ^ a b Townsend, Beth (2015-07-03). "Cover Story: Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré". Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  33. ^ "Honoré, Russel L. | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  34. ^ "About Us". The GreenARMY. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  35. ^ Sneath, Sara (2022-06-08). "Industry overpumping of Baton Rouge groundwater could pollute the supply for residents". Louisiana Illuminator. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
  36. ^ "Omar N. Bradley "Spirit of Independence Award"". Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  37. ^ Krupa, Michelle (August 29, 2008). "Third anniversary of Katrina is quiet, somber". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
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