Barrow, Robert H.

Description

Autograph ID: 6786
Condition: Very good
Description: “(1922-2008) US Marine Corps General, 27th USMC Commandant 1979-83. He served for 41 years, including command duty in 3 wars. General Barrow was awarded the Navy Cross in the Korean War and the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism during the Vietnam War. He left LSU in 1942 to join the Marines, attended OCS Feb. 1943, commissioned 2nd lieut. 1943. He served in WW II as 1st lieut. in the Navy Group China, Sino-American Cooperative Org. (SACO) Aug. 1944-Nov. 1945, training and equipping a Chinese guerilla team in Japanese-occupied Central China, awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V”. He led Co. A, 1st Btn., 1st Marines in the Korean War participating in the Inchon-Seoul campaign and the Chosin Reservoir campaign. For his heroism in holding a pass near Koto-ri Dec. 9-10, 1950, he was awarded the Navy Cross. In 1956, he began an 18-month tour at Camp Lejeune, No. Carolina, promoted to lieut. col. 1959. In Vietnam, he was CO, 9th Marine Regt., 3rd Marines and Deputy G-3 in the III Marine Amphibious Force. While in command of the 9th Marines, he saw combat near the DMZ, Khe Sanh, Da Krong Valley, and A Shau Valley and received the DSC for extraordinary heroism in Operation Dewey Canyon. In Aug. 1969, Barrow was promoted to brigadier general and as CO at Camp Butler, Okinawa. On promotion to major general, he became commanding general at Parris Island, promoted to lieutenant general in 1975 and assigned to USMC HQ as deputy chief of staff for manpower. In 1976, he was named commanding general of Fleet Marine Force in Norfolk and in 1978, Barrow became Asst. Corps Commandant to July 1979, when he became Commandant. Barrow was the 1st Commandant to serve, by law, as a regular full member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As Commandant, he won approval for production of a US-modified Harrier aircraft, awakened interest in new and improved naval gunfire support, got amphibious ships included in the Navy’s new construction programs, and returned hospital ships to the fleet. He retired from the Corps in 1983, and was appointed by President Reagan to the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and to the president’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management.

TLS “Bob” on 8 ½ x 7 4-star flag letterhead as USMC General and Corps Commandant, to Major General DeWitt C. Smith Jr., Army War College Commandant, accepts his invitation to address AWC students and faculty in April.

DeWITT C. SMITH,JR. (1920 -1985) US Army officer, former deputy Army Chief of Staff, twice (and longest-serving) Army War College commandant 1974 -77, 1978-80. Joined the Army 1942, commissioned 2nd lieutenant, with the 4th Armored Div. in combat after Normandy to the end of the War. Wounded 3 times, awarded Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars, and 3 Purple Hearts. Discharged 1946, returned to active duty in Korea and stayed in the military. He was an aide to Chief of Staff Maxwell Taylor, served in the “Old Guard” at Fort Myer, a battalion XO and commander in Germany. He served at the Pentagon before going to the Army War College. Led a combat brigade of the 1st Infantry in Vietnam. In 1970, under his leadership, Fort Carson, Colo. was made an initial test site for the modern volunteer Army concept. After his stints at the War College, he retired in 1980.”
Type: Letter