When you think about courage, resilience and real leadership, General Jim Livingston portrays all of those qualities. He’s a Medal of Honor recipient and a retired United States Marine Corps Major General. However, before all the medals and military accolades, he was just a young student on Auburn University’s campus, building a foundation that would shape his life and the lives of many others.
From his early days as a Marine to his service in the Vietnam War, General Livingston graduated from Auburn University in 1962 with a degree in civil engineering. Livingston took more than just a diploma with him when he left Auburn, he carried the Auburn Creed in his heart. The belief in hard work, honesty and service stayed with him through every challenge.
“Auburn taught me how to think bigger than myself." Livingston said. "It wasn’t just about getting a degree—it was about learning how to lead, how to serve, and how to stand up when it counts.”
In 1968, during the Battle of Dai Do, Livingston led a fearless assault under heavy enemy fire, rescuing wounded Marines and inspiring his men to push forward, even after being seriously wounded himself. That battle earned him the Medal of Honor, the highest and most prestigious military decoration awarded by the U.S. government.
To put that into perspective, the Medal of Honor was created in 1861 and fewer than 3,600 people have received it, many of them posthumously.
But General Livingston is the first to remind people that it was never about individual glory.
“It was very important to keep focus on your job, but you also had the responsibility to keep focus on those people that you were responsible for, and do everything you can to ensure the possibility that they will survive as a result of being in combat. "General Livingston said.
Auburn University continues to show its appreciation to General Livingston. In September 2024, Livingston was honored during the Auburn vs. California football game. The Youth Leadership Development Program, founded by Dr. Kevin Walsh, worked behind the scenes, making it possible for General Livingston to attend the event.
This fall, the College of Engineering will unveil a special exhibit and display case to honor General Livingston’s legacy. It will include a replica of his Medal of Honor, personal items and Auburn memorabilia he’s gathered over the years, which are symbols of a life dedicated to service and leadership. The display will feature a QR code that takes visitors to a video interview featuring General Livingston, offering an intimate glimpse into his remarkable life and leadership.
Helping bring this vision to life is Madison Fleming, a development officer in the College of Engineering. She’s worked closely with General Livingston and lights up when she talks about him.
“Working with General Livingston is an absolute honor,” Fleming said. “He’s so passionate about Auburn and about making a difference in students’ lives. He’s just one of those people who makes you feel like what you’re doing really matters.”
General Livingston’s relationship with Auburn University goes far beyond that of a typical alumnus. He remains actively engaged with the campus community and continues to support the university that played such a formative role in his life.
“General Livingston is a true Auburn man, involved in so many things on campus, affiliated with his fraternity Sigma Pi, and how he attributes his success back to his Auburn degree, as well as being inducted into the Alabama engineering hall of fame last year which is a huge honor in the engineering world.” Fleming said.”
That seems to be the theme with General Livingston, he makes people feel like they matter. Whether he’s leading in combat, mentoring students or standing on the football field soaking in the applause, he’s always focused on others. He’s never made it about himself.
“I’ve been blessed,” Livingston said. “I’ve had a good life, and I owe a lot of that to Auburn. It gave me the tools, the discipline, and the values I needed when I didn’t even realize it at the time.”
General Jim Livingston is more than a Marine. More than a Medal of Honor recipient. He’s a symbol of strength, humility and what it means to live by the Auburn Creed. He’s proof that you don’t have to be perfect to be great; you just have to keep showing up, serving others and doing the next right thing.
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