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Roscoe Robinson Jr.

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For the singer, see Roscoe Robinson (musician).
Roscoe Robinson Jr.
General Roscoe Robinson Jr.
Born(1928-10-11)October 11, 1928
St. Louis, Missouri, US
DiedJuly 22, 1993(1993-07-22) (aged 64)
Washington, D.C., US
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
RankGeneral
CommandsUnited States Army, Japan
82nd Airborne Division
United States Army Garrison, Okinawa
2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division
2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment
Battles / warsKorean War
Vietnam War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Silver Star Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (3)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Air Medal (11)

Roscoe Robinson Jr. (October 11, 1928 – July 22, 1993) was the first African American to become a four-star general in the United States Army. He served as the United States representative to the NATO Military Committee. Robinson previously served as commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division and then of United States Army, Japan.

Early life and education

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Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Robinson graduated from Sumner High School in January 1946 and then attended Stowe College for one semester.[1] He studied at Saint Louis University for a year and then transferred to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1947. He graduated with a B.S. degree in military engineering in 1951. Robinson graduated from the advanced course at the United States Army Infantry School in 1957. He then went on to graduate from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1963. The following year he received his master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh in public and international affairs. Robinson later graduated from the National War College in 1969.[2][3]

Career

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Robinson as a West Point cadet

After graduating from West Point, Robinson served in the Korean War in 1952 as a platoon leader and rifle company commander. For his actions he received the Bronze Star. Sent back to the United States a year later he became an instructor in the Airborne Department of the Army Infantry School.[1]

In 1967, he served as commander of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam.[4] For his achievements there he received the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, 11 Air Medals, and two Silver Stars.[3]

After Vietnam he served at the National War College as the executive officer to the Chief of Staff. He then served on the headquarters staff of the United States Pacific Command in Hawaii before becoming commander of the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 1972.[1][4]

In 1973, Robinson was promoted to brigadier general and, in 1975, became commanding general of the United States Army Garrison, Okinawa. In 1976, he was promoted to major general and assigned to command the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. General Robinson was the first African American to command the 82nd Airborne Division. He then served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army. Promoted to lieutenant general in 1980, Robinson served as the commanding general of United States Army, Japan, and IX Corps[1][4] He was subsequently awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal in 1983.[5]

His final assignment was as U.S. Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee from 1982–1985. After he had completed 34 years of service to the U.S. military he retired on November 30, 1985. He was then awarded with the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and a second Army Distinguished Service Medal.[1]

Awards and decorations

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U.S. Badges, Patches and Tabs
Combat Infantryman Badge w/ one silver star (2 awards)
Master Parachutist Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
? Overseas Service Bars
U.S. Individual Decorations
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Army Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Silver Star w/ oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit w/ two oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Air Medal w/ two silver oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
U.S. Good Conduct Medal and Service Medals
Bronze star
 National Defense Service Medal with one 3⁄16" bronze star
Korean Service Medal w/ three 3⁄16" bronze stars
Vietnam Service Medal w/ three 3⁄16" bronze stars
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 2
Foreign Individual Decorations
Gold star
 Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/ Palm and one 5⁄16" gold star
Foreign Unit Awards
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Foreign Service Medals
United Nations Korea Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Later life and legacy

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After his retirement, he was asked to look over a panel of people who were examining the Korean War performance of some highly criticized army units. He also served on the board of Northwest Airlines. Robinson and his wife Mildred lived in Falls Church, Virginia. After a battle with leukemia, Robinson died on July 22, 1993, at the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C., at the age of 64, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[6][7][8][9] In April 2000, there was a ceremony and a dedication at West Point for a new auditorium, named the "General Roscoe Robinson Jr. Auditorium" in his honor. The Roscoe Robinson Health Clinic at Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg is also named in his honor.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "General Roscoe Robinson, Jr". The Historic Thayer Hotel at West Point. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  2. ^ U.S. Army Register: Active and Retired List. Vol. I. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army. January 1, 1966. p. 481. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  3. ^ a b "Class of 1951—Register of Graduates". Official Register of the Officers and Cadets. United States Military Academy. 1971. p. 623. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  4. ^ a b c "General Roscoe Robinson, Jr.". Army Executive Biographies. Headquarters, Department of the Army. 1985. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  5. ^ "General (GEN) John A. Wickam Jr., US Army chief of staff, presents the Distinguished Service Medal to GEN Roscoe Robinson Jr., the US representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Military Committee". U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. October 31, 1983. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  6. ^ Notable Graves – Prominent Military Figures, Arlington National Cemetery
  7. ^ "Gen. Roscoe Robinson Jr., Ex-NATO Envoy, Dies at 64". The Washington Post. July 23, 1993. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  8. ^ "Roscoe Robinson Jr. Dies at 64; First Black to Be 4-Star General". The New York Times. July 23, 1993. p. A19. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  9. ^ "Gen. Roscoe Robinson Jr.; 1st Black at 4-Star Rank". Los Angeles Times. July 24, 1993. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  10. ^ "Womack Army Medical Center – Roscoe Robinson Health Clinic". Archived from the original on 2007-07-04. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
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