Biography
Russel L. Honore (born September 15, 1947) is a retired lieutenant general who served as the 33rd commanding general of the United States First Army at Fort Gillem, Georgia.
Russel Honoré is best known for commanding the Katrina Joint Task Force. He was in charge of coordinating military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina-affected areas along the Gulf Coast, as well as commanding the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea.
He remained in the Army until January 11, 2008, when he retired. Russel Honoré is also known as “The Ragin’ Cajun“.
| Russel L. Honoré: History • Bio • Photo | |
| Real Name: | Russel L. Honoré |
| Stage Name: | The Ragin’ Cajun |
| Born: | 15 September 1947 (age 74 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Lakeland, Louisiana, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | N/A |
| Parents: | Honore Udell, Honore Lloyd |
| Siblings: | Honore Lloyd, Honore James “Jimmy”, Honore Judala? “Pete”, Honore Mary Joy, Honore Marshall, Honore Lorraine, Honore Clarence “Cookie”, Honore Anthony “Roderick”, Honore John, Honore Alvin “Al”, Honore Loretta |
| Wife • Spouse: | Beverly Honoré (m. 1971) |
| Girlfriend • Partner: | N/A |
| Children: | Steven Honore, Kimberly Honore, Stephanie Honore, Michael Honore |
| Occupation: | Soldier • General |
| Net Worth: | US$1 million-US$3 million |
Early Life & Education
General Russel L. Honore, widely known as “The Ragin Cajun,” was born in Lakeland, Louisiana, United States. He is the ninth of twelve children of a Pointe Coupee Parish-based Louisiana Créole family.
Among the Cane River Créoles, the Honoré surname still exists. He was born on 15th of September 1947 to Honore Udell (mother) and Honore Lloyd (father).
His siblings are Honore Lloyd, Honore James “Jimmy”, Honore Judala? “Pete”, Honore Mary Joy, Honore Marshall, Honore Lorraine, Honore Clarence “Cookie”, Honore Anthony “Roderick”, Honore John, Honore Alvin “Al”, and Honore Loretta.
Russel Honoré graduated from Southern University and A&M College with a B.S. in vocational agriculture in 1971. He also has a master’s degree in human resources from Troy University and an honorary doctorate in public administration from Southern University and A&M College.
The international civilian Center for Creative Leadership provided him with leadership development training.
Personal Life
Russel Honoré identifies himself as an “African-American Creole,” a person of mixed French, African, American Indian, and Spanish ancestry.
He married Beverly Honoré in 1971, and their union is blessed with four children: Steven Honore, Kimberly Honore, Stephanie Honore, and Michael Honore.
Russel Honoré and his wife, Beverly, live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with their four children.
Career
Russel Honoré served in several command and staff positions in South Korea and Germany even before he was appointed Commander in the United States Army on July 15, 2004.
He was the Commanding General of the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea, as well as Vice Director for Operations, J-3, The Joint Staff in Washington, D.C., Deputy Commanding General and Assistant Commandant, United States Army Infantry Center and School in Fort Benning, Georgia, and Assistant Division Commander, Maneuver/Support, 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas.
Soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division were on a training assignment near the North Korean border on June 13, 2002, when their vehicle collided with and killed two 14-year-old girls on a narrow public road in South Korea. Sgt. Mark Walker and Sgt. Fernando Nino was charged with negligent homicide by the US military in July 2002.
They were found not guilty after that. Russel Honoré (then a major general) replied by paying a visit to the victims’ parents and promised that the US military would construct a memorial to the girls at the accident site.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said on January 15, 2021, that Russel Honoré will oversee an investigation into security shortcomings following the attack on the US Capitol, focusing on “security infrastructure, interagency processes and procedures, and command and control.”
On December 30, 2005, during halftime of the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana, Russel Honoré won the Omar N. Bradley “Spirit of Independence Award” for his work in the recovery of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
Russel Honoré was named commander of Joint Task Force Katrina on August 31, 2005, responsible for directing military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina-affected areas along the Gulf Coast.
After what was widely perceived as a dismal performance by state and municipal authorities, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its director Michael D. Brown, Russel Honoré arrived in New Orleans.
Net Worth
Russel Honoré has an estimated net worth of over US$1 million to US$3 million. He makes the majority of his fortune serving in the United States army.
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @Russelhonore
- Twitter handle: @Itrusselhonore