Orlando Llenza
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Major General Orlando Llenza (July 1, 1930 – March 11, 2021) was the second Puerto Rican to reach the rank of Major General (two-star General) in the United States Air Force. Llenza served as commander of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard (PRANG).
Early years
Llenza was born to Maria Isabel Lopez and Harry B. Llenza in Santurce barrio in the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico the capital of Puerto Rico, where he received his primary and secondary education. In 1947, he graduated from Central High School in Santurce and applied for admission at Georgia Tech. In 1951 he earned his bachelor's degree in Architecture and a commission as 2nd lieutenant through the Air Force ROTC program.[1]
Military career
Llenza began his military career as an enlisted airman in the United States Air Force Reserve in 1946 and in 1951 joined the regular United States Air Force as a 2nd lieutenant assigned to Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock County, Texas. He attended USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training, the Air War College, and Air Command and Staff College in Maxwell Air Force Base, among others.[1]
Korean War
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During the Korean War, Llenza flew as a pilot in the 9th Air Refueling Squadron at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base. During his career he flew the T-6 Texan, B-25 Mitchell, Boeing KB-29M tanker, KC-97 Stratofreighter tanker, T-33 Shooting Star Shooting Star, F-86 Sabre D, E, F and H models, F-104 Starfighter, and the C-47 Skytrain, C-54 Skymaster, C-131 Samaritan transports.[1]
Adjutant General of P.R. National Guard
After leaving active duty, Llenza joined the Puerto Rico Air National Guard. He fulfilled many roles within the 156th Wing Tactical Fighter Group at Muñiz Air National Guard Base including flight leader, squadron commander and group deputy commander for operations. In 1965 Llenza was part of the U.S. action in the Dominican Republic at the start of the Dominican Civil War. Llenza was named Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard by Governor Carlos Romero Barceló, a position which he held from 1977 to 1983.[1] His promotion to major general in the Air Force Reserve was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 8, 1979.[2] Llenza became the mission director in Ecuador for US AID from 1983 to 1986. As a civilian he was a successful architect with Llenza & Llenza (the other Llenza was Hector his brother).[3]
Llenza was also the recipient of many awards, including the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal and the National Order of Merit-Ecuador.[1] General Llenza was the Chairman of the American Veterans' Committee for Puerto Rico Self-Determination. Llenza was a member of the Board of Directors of the United States Council for Puerto Rico Statehood.[4]
After retiring from the Air National Guard, Llenza worked for the United States Agency for International Development as the mission director in Quito, Ecuador, for three years.
Death
Llenza died on March 11, 2021, in Miami, Florida, and was buried at the Puerto Rico National Cemetery in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
Awards and decorations
Among Llenza's decorations and medals were the following:
- File:Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
- File:Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Meritorious Service Medal
- File:National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg National Defense Service Medal
- File:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- File:Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svg Combat Readiness Medal
- File:Air Force Longevity Service ribbon.svg Air Force Longevity Service Award
- File:AFRM with Hourglass Device.jpg Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Bronze Hourglass Device)
- File:USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
- File:Air Force Training Ribbon.svg Air Force Training Ribbon
- File:Distinguished Service Medal.JPG Puerto Rico Medal for Distinguished Service
- File:Florida Distinguished Service Medal.svg Florida Distinguished Service Medal
- File:Civil Disturbance Ribbon.JPG Puerto Rico Civil Disturbance Ribbon
- File:Service Medal1.JPG Puerto Rico Service Medal with two bronce Oak leaf clusters
Badges:
Foreign award
National Order of Merit-Ecuador
See also
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- List of Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel
- Hispanics in the United States Air Force
References
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- ↑ a b c d e Puerto Rico Herald - Profile: Orlando Llenza
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Llenza speaks out for Puerto Rican Statehood
- ↑ United States Council for Puerto Rico StatehoodTemplate:Category handler[<span title="Script error: No such module "string".">usurped]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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Further reading
- "Puertorriquenos Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor. Fighting to Defend a Nation Not Completely Their Own"; by : Greg Boudonck; Template:ISBN; Template:ISBN
External links
- Puerto Rico HeraldTemplate:Category handler[<span title="Script error: No such module "string".">usurped]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pages with script errors
- Pages with broken file links
- 1930 births
- 2021 deaths
- Burials at Puerto Rico National Cemetery
- Air Command and Staff College alumni
- Air War College alumni
- American Korean War pilots
- Georgia Tech alumni
- National Guard (United States) generals
- Puerto Rican United States Air Force personnel
- Puerto Rican aviators
- People from Santurce, Puerto Rico
- Puerto Rican military officers
- Adjutants General of Puerto Rico
- Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
- United States Air Force generals
- United States Air Force reservists
- Puerto Rico National Guard personnel