Louis H. Buehl III; Marine Corps Chief of Staff

Lt. Gen. Louis H. Buehl III, 56, U.S. Marine Corps chief of staff who had held the No. 3 spot (behind the commandant and the assistant commandant) in the Marine hierarchy since October, 1987. He was a combat veteran of the Vietnam War and previously had served as commanding general of the Camp Lejeune, N.C., Marine Corps Base, as a deputy chief of staff for reserve affairs and as the senior military assistant to the deputy secretary of defense. Buehl’s decorations included the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with Combat “V,” the Bronze Star with Combat “V” and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V.” In Washington on Wednesday after a stroke.