1943- . US Marine lieutenant colonel. In 1981
he was inducted into the National Security
Council (NSC), where he supervised the mining
of Nicaraguan harbours 1983, an air-force
bombing raid on Libya 1986, and an
arms-for-hostages deal with Iran 1985 which,
when uncovered in 1986 (Irangate), forced his
dismissal and conviction on felony charges.
He was born into a San Antonio, Texas,
military family and was a graduate of the US
Naval Academy, Annapolis. He led a
counterinsurgency Marine platoon in the
Vietnam War 1968-69, winning a Silver Star
and Purple Heart. After working as a Marine
instructor, as well as participating in a
number of overseas secret missions, he became
the NSC deputy director for political
military affairs. North was convicted of
obstructing Congress, mutilating government
documents, and taking an illegal gratuity; he
was fined $150,000.