Stephen Goodwin Olmstead (10 November 1929 – 20 July 2022) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with a rank of Lieutenant General.

[2][3][4][5] Following a United States entry into the Korean War in June 1950, he was assigned to the newly activated "G" Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton, California and sailed for Korea at the end of August that year.

Olmstead was promoted to the rank of Private First Class and participated in the Inchon Landing in September 1950 and then in Chosin Reservoir Campaign in November–December 1950, where he served as Squad leader.

He then remained at Marine Corps Base Quantico and served consecutively as Platoon leader and Company Executive Officer within the School's Demonstration Troops until early 1953.

[2][3][4][5] During January 1958, Olmstead was reassigned as a company commander, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division under Major general Joseph C. Burger and served in this capacity until July 1959, when he was sent to the Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia for an instruction.

[2][3][4][5] He was then attached to the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska and served as operations officer until June 1969.

His duties included the coordination of intelligence having a direct impact on the National Strategic Target List and Joint Chiefs of Staff Single Integrated Operation Plan.

[2][4][5] Olmstead was subsequently ordered to the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, where he completed the Senior Course in June 1970 and also graduated with Master of Science degree from the correspondence course in the international affairs at the George Washington University.

While in this capacity, he conducted several inspection trips to Phnom Penh, Cambodia during the ongoing Civil War and held additional duty as Ground Security Force commander.

Olmstead also participated in the planning of Operation Eagle Pull, military evacuation by air of Phnom Penh, which occurred after his departure for the United States.

[2][8][3][4][5] Olmstead was ordered to Gaeta, Italy, in May 1974 and joined the staff of Commander, United States Sixth Fleet under Vice admiral Frederick C. Turner.

He served in this capacity until July 1984, when he assumed duty as Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina.