CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - Retired Army Lt. Gen. Herbert R. Temple Jr. , former chief of the National Guard Bureau, was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery Jan. 24 during a ceremony befitting his long and faithful service to the nation.
Temple passed away peacefully at his home in Palm Desert Jan. 29, surrounded by his friends and the Guard family to whom he devoted nearly 80 years of his life.
“I’m filled with a sense of both sorrow and gratitude. Sorrow for the profound loss of a mentor and friend to so many, but also gratitude for all of us having had the privilege to know such an extraordinary man,” said Army Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Stubbs, 23rd director of the Army National Guard.
Stubbs emphasized Temple was not just a leader but a shining example of integrity and service.
“Throughout his distinguished career, he dedicated himself to our nation with an unwavering resolve and selfless spirit,” he said. “He set the Army Guard on a path to future success for which his successors are certainly grateful.”
Retired Army Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson echoed Stubbs’ sentiments.
“In his presence, you wanted to stand tall, sit straighter, fully appreciate the honor of serving our nation and endeavor to do our absolute best,” said Hokanson, the 29th chief of the National Guard Bureau.
“With him, you were with a true patriot, someone we could all learn from, and we are blessed to become better Soldiers and people,” he added.
Stubbs emphasized Temple’s dedication to duty.
“As a young private, three general orders are ingrained into your brain when you enter the Army. The first general order is that I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved, and no doubt Private Temple memorized that first general order.
“Never was this more evident than with the way Lt. Gen. Temple continued his dedicated support to the Guard he loved so long after his retirement in 1990.
“What is unique and remarkable about Gen. Temple is that even in retirement, he continued guarding this great organization, mentoring and encouraging those who followed in his footsteps,” said Stubbs. “He held firm to that order throughout his incredible military career and stayed in his post.”
Stubbs ended his eulogy with a solemn and heartfelt farewell.
“Now, I want to formally relieve Gen. Temple of his duties so he may rest easy. Lt. Gen. Herbert R. Temple Jr., you are hereby relieved of duty, sir. May you rest easy. Carry on,” Stubbs said as he stood at attention and issued a final salute.
Temple, a combat infantryman from the Korean War, enlisted as a private in the California Army National Guard’s 160th Infantry Regiment in 1947. He deployed to the Korean peninsula with the 5th Regimental Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, in 1950 and served as the deputy director of the Army National Guard from 1978-1982, as the 12th director of the Army National Guard from 1982-1986, and as the 21st CNGB from 1986-1990. Temple retired from the U.S. Army on Feb. 1, 1990, after over 42 years of service to the National Guard and the nation.