Roscoe Robinson

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Fred Black on July 27, 1998:

July 22 is the fifth anniversary of the death of General Roscoe Robinson, Jr., Class of 1951. At his Ft Myer funeral service on July 26, 1993, great soldiers uttered words of praise and glory in tribute. He was remembered for his many victories in a life that was ultimately defeated by leukemia. Former Chief of Staff and classmate Shy Meyer said he came into a segregated Army and was one of the first to serve in a nonsegregated unit. His solution, Meyer said, was to prove that he was a good as anybody else. The "Army Times" ran an editorial comparing Robinson and Ridgway as men who left behind professional lessons for succeeding generations. While some might argue that Roscoe Robinson inspired officers and soldiers by showing that a black man could reach four stars, I don't think that was his most important legacy. His legacy, in my opinion, is that an officer can be successful and still treat people with respect and compassion, accomplish the mission without being a flame, and help his subordinates maintain a balance between duty and family, even in a fast-paced unit. I had the pleasure of working for the new Colonel Roscoe Robinson when he took over the 2d Brigade of the 82d Airborne Division from his classmate Sandy Weyand in May 1972. As the adjutant I remember some of the hectic days getting him to Bragg from Hawaii, moving in quarters and then deploying the brigade to Ft. Indiantown Gap, PA for ROTC summer camp support. In his first briefing on the mission, he constantly asked about the family support plan and how we would "educate" the families left behind at Bragg. Needless to say, we worked long hours to meet all of the requirement for the deployment, but we were working toward a purpose. He brought that out in people. GEN Robinson would later say commanding that brigade under ADC Shy Meyer and CGs Blanchard and Kroeson was the best job in his career. Now here is a man who commanded a company in the Korean War; the 2d Bn, 7th Cav in Vietnam; the 82d Airborne Division; US Army Japan/IX Corps; and service as US Rep to NATO's Military Committee. Why in his mind would a brigade command top his list? I think the answer was that he had fun commanding that brigade and working so directly with soldiers and their families in a way he didn't experience in Korea or Vietnam, or later as a general officer. I think that the officers, NCOs and paratroopers who served in that brigade he commanded would also say it was a special unit experience because we had a special commander. We made mistakes and had the opportunity to learn from them. The emphasis was on the soldier and his family and they knew it. Leadership was the order of the day and if you couldn't lead, GEN Robinson ensured you got out of the way. I hope those from the brigade who are now general officers and CSMs remember his many lessons. In the summer of 1977 as CG of the 82d, GEN Robinson came to West Point to visit his task force with the Camp Buckner mission. It was, as I remember him saying, his first trip back since his graduation over a quarter century before. He had not attended his reunions. I think bringing his son Bruce ('84) to West Point to join the Corps in 1980 helped heal his relationship with West Point. He returned many times afterward for unofficial and official visits. When he spoke to cadets, he spoke. He didn't read speeches; he talked about the responsibilities of leaders and the importance of taking care of soldiers. Plain, simple things, things he understood so well. When he received the Distinguished Graduate Award at the May 1993 ceremony, it was a proud moment for him, surrounded by so many friends and classmates. By that time he was visibly weaker and his health was seriously declining. He asked me to push him in his wheelchair from the Supe's quarters to the review stand for the ceremony. He talked the entire journey around the Plain about the ironies of life and his memories of West Point. He pointed out where some of the monuments were when he was a cadet. He was proud of the West Point that was honoring him that day and the Army he served for 34 years, albeit, some of them very difficult and discouraging years. He did not hold grudges or assign blame; he was always too busy being positive and looking forward. He told me that when he passed, his wife Millie would ask me to serve as a pallbearer and he wanted to know I would accept the mission. Fortunately we arrived at the stands about the same time and I only uttered a quick, but emotional "yes Sir" and did a hand off with his classmate Elmer Pendleton, who would escort him out on the Plain. Somehow I knew I had my last personal "teachable moment" with him. Where better then on the Plain at West Point? After his funeral service almost two months later at that beautiful Ft. Myer Chapel, the pallbearers walked with the caisson the mile plus distance to the burial site. I knew just where to stand: GEN Powell, the other four, three and two star generals were well in front of this very privileged colonel. During that "walk," I couldn't help but think of all of the reasons GEN Robinson was such a distinguished graduate of West Point and an outstanding Army Officer worthy of emulation. I had very personal reasons that transcended the professional. Who was a more visible role model as a family man? Who was the first visitor at the hospital when my first child was born? Who considered my father his role model? Who else could spend the night in your Stony Lonesome quarters as a four star, be right at home, and remind you about how much better housing had gotten for captains and majors? Who vigorously supported my decision to become a PAP when others said stay on the command track? Who did I hear from immediately after my parents died? Who else could "chew you out" in such a beautiful way? Who loved soldiers and made his time with them teachable moments? Who would later have a Ft. Bragg medical clinic named for him because of his emphasis on taking care of the troops? GEN Robinson was a special mentor. He mentored lots of people before the word became popular. He just cared, he just did it. He wasn't flashy. He was approachable and looked for the good in people. He didn't talk about his CIB with star or the Silver Stars he earned. He would, however, talk about his master wings and tell you how for some odd reason old paratroopers hit the ground so much harder than the young paratroopers did. He let his actions speak for him. He would say just do your job as well as you can and things will take care of themselves. This year, his burial date falls on the 50th anniversary of Harry Truman's Executive Order 9981, and there is something wonderfully symbolic about sharing that important date in our history. It may only be five years since he left us, but it seems like the Army has been without his special brand of common sense and basic leadership a lot longer. Continue to "be thou at peace" Roscoe Robinson, Jr.! Post by: BLACK Frederick Honorary 612040

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