Robert Emmett Joseph

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by West Point 1955 on August 1, 2001:

Robert Emmett Joseph, Jr Col. Robert Emmett Joseph, Jr., USA, Ret., after a varied and Col. Robert Emmett Joseph, Jr., USA, Ret., after a varied and distinguished career, passed away as the result of leukemia on August 1, 2001 in San Antonio, TX. He was born on September 3, 1932 in Richmond, VA and was graduated from West Point United States Military Academy in 1955 with a B.S. in General Engineering. After attending Infantry Basic Course, the Airborne Course and the Ranger Course, Col. Joseph was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg. In 1957, he joined the 3rd Infantry Div. at Ft. Benning, GA, which gyroscoped to Germany. In Germany, he was assigned to the 2nd Battle Group, 4th Inf., 3rd Inf. Div for two years as a company commander. Col. Joseph returned to Ft. Benning for the Infantry Career Course and in 1961, was assigned to Clemson University, SC, on ROTC duty. In 1964, Col. Joseph studied Thai at the Defense Language Institute, Monterey, CA, followed by a one-year assignment to Thailand as an advisor to the Thai 5th Regimental Combat Team. From Thailand, he was selected to attend the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Republic of Vietnam, where he served as Exec. Officer to the 2nd Bn., 60th Infantry. In 1968, Col. Joseph returned from Vietnam and was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Research and Development at the Pentagon for 2 years, followed by assignment to American University where he received his M.A. degree in South and Southeast Asia and Thai Language. Upon graduation in 1971, he was assigned to Ft. Hood, TX, where he assumed command of the 1st/8th Cavalry Div. (TRICAP). In 1973, he received orders to the Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, PA, followed by assignment to Korea as G-3 of the 2nd Inf. Div. Upon completion of this tour, he was assigned to West Point as a member of the Office of Military Instruction and later as Regimental Commander. In 1977, he attended the State Department Thai Course, followed by assignment to Thailand as the Army Attachi until his 1980-1982 Deputy Post Commander assignment at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. From 1982 until military retirement in 1984, he served as the Chief of Readiness and Mobilization Group at Ft. Sam Houston, TX. Upon military retirement, he became Commandant at San Antonio Academy until 1996, when he fully retired. His military awards include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with Valor (2nd oak leaf cluster), the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (2nd oak leaf cluster), the Army Commendation Medal (2nd oak leaf cluster), the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, 2 Air Medals and the Combat Infantry Badge. Col. Joseph is survived by his wife, Nancy Cowan Joseph, of San Antonio; his daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and John Abshier, of New Braunfels, TX; his son, Robert E. Joseph III, of Spring, TX; his grandchildren, Brian and Melissa, of New Braunfels, TX; and his sister and brother-in-law, Barbara Joseph and Mort Mumma III, of Fredericksburg, VA.

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