Peter George Olenchuk (July 14, 1922 – October 6, 2000) was a

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

Biography

Originally a native of Bayonne, New Jersey, Olenchuk graduated from

Lebanon Valley College Lebanon Valley College (LVC, Lebanon Valley, or The Valley) is a private college in Annville, Pennsylvania. History Lebanon Valley was founded on February 23, 1866, with classes beginning May 7 of that year and its first class graduating in 18 ...

before obtaining a M.A. in

Bacteriology Bacteriology is the branch and specialty of biology that studies the morphology, ecology, genetics and biochemistry of bacteria as well as many other aspects related to them. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classificat ...

from the

University of Wisconsin-Madison A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...

and a M.B.A. in Business Administration from

George Washington University The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a Private university, private University charter#Federal, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. Chartered in 1821 by the United States Congress, GWU is the largest Higher educat ...

. He married Ruth Clement and have three children. On 9 August 1970 his daughter Mary C. Olenchuk, born November 18, 1956, disappeared from

Ogunquit, Maine Ogunquit ( ) is a resort town in York County, Maine. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,577. Ogunquit is part of the Portland– South Portland–Biddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area. History Ogunquit, which means "be ...

. On 22 August 1970 her strangled body was discovered hidden under a pile of hay in an abandoned barn 9 miles away in

Kennebunk, Maine Kennebunk is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 11,536 at the 2020 census (The population does not include Kennebunkport, a separate town). Kennebunk is home to several beaches, the Rachel Carson National Wildlife R ...

. It remains one of Maine's oldest unsolved murders. Olenchuk died on October 6, 2000, in

. He is buried at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

.Burial Detail: Olenchuk, Peter G
– ANC Explorer

Career

Olenchuk enlisted in the Army Corps of Engineers in 1943 and served in North Africa and the Far East in World War II. He became a commissioned officer in 1945 and his assignments included two tours of duty in the Vietnam War. In 1963 Olenchuk headed a team to observe and evaluate "Operation Ranch Hand" the name given to the defoliation and crop destruction programs in Vietnam. The resulting Olenchuk Report pronounced these early programs to be both militarily and technologically effective and was instrumental in obtaining approval for the continuation and expansion of what has come to be known as The Agent Orange Program. From 1966 - 1968 he assumed command of Fort Detrick, at that time the U.S. center for biological warfare, in Frederick, Maryland. In the late 1960s he oversaw the controversial

Operation CHASE Operation CHASE (an acronym for "Cut Holes And Sink 'Em") was a United States Department of Defense program for the disposal of unwanted munitions at sea from May 1964 until the early 1970s.Kurak, Steve "Operation Chase" ''United States Naval Instit ...

. In 1973 he became Director of Material Acquisition of the Army. Later he became Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development, and Acquisition. He retired in 1975. He was posthumously inducted into the Chemical Corps Regimental Association Hall of Fame in 2001. Awards he received include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the

Air Medal The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Criteria The Air Medal was establish ...

, and the

Joint Service Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fifth ...

References

People from Bayonne, New Jersey People from Ogunquit, Maine United States Army generals Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Air Medal Lebanon Valley College alumni University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health alumni George Washington University School of Business alumni Burials at Arlington National Cemetery 2000 deaths 1922 births United States Army personnel of World War II {{US-army-bio-stub