Oliver North

Oliver Laurence North (b. October 7 1943) is an American Conservative political commentator. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps, and rose to national prominence because of the Iran-Contra Affair, during which he was a key official in the clandestine selling of weapons to Iran in order to earn money for the Contras during U.S. President Ronald Reagan's administration.

Early life and career

North was born in 1943 in San Antonio, Texas, and was raised a Roman Catholic in upstate Philmont, New York, and attended the State University of New York Brockport before attending the U.S. Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1968.

Related Topics:
San Antonio, Texas - Philmont, New York - State University of New York Brockport - U.S. Naval Academy - 1968

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He served as a Marine for twenty-two years, including service in the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for valor, and two Purple Hearts for wounds in combat.

Related Topics:
Marine - Vietnam War - Silver Star - Bronze Star - Purple Heart

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North was assigned to the National Security Council staff of the Reagan administration in 1981, served as the United States government Counterterrorism Coordinator from 1983 to 1986, and eventually became Deputy Director for Political-Military Affairs. He coordinated the 1983 invasion of Grenada and the successful 1985 attempt to arrest the hijackers of the passenger ship Achille Lauro in Italy. He also helped plan the controversial 1986 air raids on Libyan military bases in Tripoli and Benghazi in retaliation for the bombing of a Berlin nightclub.

Related Topics:
National Security Council - Reagan - 1981 - 1983 - 1986 - Grenada - 1985 - Hijackers - Achille Lauro - Italy - Libya - Tripoli - Benghazi - Berlin

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