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Edward Lansdale

United States general (1908-1987) · United States · On the map · Writers · Died at 79

Edward Geary Lansdale was a United States Air Force officer until retiring in 1963 as a major general before continuing his work with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Lansdale was a pioneer in clandestine operations and psychological warfare.

Edward Lansdale is read about 181 times a day, in 17 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 20 June 2026

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Awards

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
National Security Medal

About this person

In the early 1950s, Lansdale played a significant role in suppressing the Hukbalahap rebellion in the Philippines. In 1954, he moved to Saigon and started the Saigon Military Mission, a covert intelligence operation that was created to sow dissension in North Vietnam. Lansdale believed the United States could win guerrilla wars by studying the enemy's psychology, an approach that notionally won the approval of the presidential administrations of both John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson but largely would not be implemented due to bureaucratic opposition.

Country
United States
Category
Writers
Type
Writer / Author
Status
Deceased
Dates
Lived 1908 to 1987 · aged 79