Robert H. Barrow

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Robert H. Barrow
Born February 5, 1922 (1922-02-05) (age 86)

27th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1979-1983)
Place of birth Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Allegiance Flag of the United States United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1942-1983[1]
Rank General
Commands held Commandant of the Marine Corps
Battles/wars World War II
Korean War
-Battle of Inchon
-Battle of Chosin Reservoir
Vietnam War
-Operation Dewey Canyon
Awards Navy Cross
Distinguished Service Cross
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (3)
Bronze Star with Combat "V" (2)
Other work Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board

General Robert Hilliard Barrow (born February 5, 1922) was the 27th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) from 1979-1983. Now retired, Barrow served for 41 years, including overseas command duty in three wars.

Contents

[edit] Marine Corps career

[edit] World War II

Barrow attended Louisiana State University from 1939 to 1942,[2] leaving early to join the Marine Corps in 1942.[3] He attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and was retained as a Drill Instructor after his graduation. While serving on the drill field, he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School in February 1943. He was commissioned a second lieutenant on May 19, 1943.

During World War II, Barrow served with the Sino-American Cooperative Organization which was a U.S. trained and equipped Chinese guerilla team in Japanese-occupied Central China. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V.[4]

[edit] Korean War

During the Korean War, Barrow commanded Company A, 1st Battalion 1st Marines in the Inchon-Seoul campaign and in the Chosin Reservoir campaign. For his heroism in holding a pass near Koto-ri on December 9-10, 1950, he was awarded the Navy Cross.

[edit] Interwar years

From 1957 to 1960, Barrow served as the Marine Officer Instructor at the Tulane University Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps.

[edit] Vietnam War

In Vietnam, Barrow served as Commanding Officer, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division (Rein), and as Deputy G-3, III Marine Amphibious Force. He received the Army Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism in Operation Dewey Canyon.

[edit] Decorations

Navy Cross
Navy Cross

General Barrow's medals and decorations include[5]:

[edit] Post-military career

After General Barrow's retirement from the Marine Corps, he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and to the president's Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management.[6]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Barrow enlisted in 1942 and was commissioned in 1943.
  2. ^ General Robert H. Barrow (PDF). Office of Public Affairs, LSU. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  3. ^ Barrow received an honorary doctorate of science from LSU in 1990.
  4. ^ Camp, Dick (2006). ‘’”Leatherneck Legends” – Conversation swith the Marine Corps' Old Breed.’’ pp. 84-87. Zenith Press. ISBN 0-7603-2157-4.
  5. ^ http://www.lsu.edu/departments/pa/pdf/Barrow.pdf
  6. ^ Appointment of General Robert H. Barrow as a Member of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library (January 6, 1984). Retrieved on 2006-11-19.

[edit] References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Gen. Louis H. Wilson, Jr.
Commandant of the United States Marine Corps
1979—1983
Succeeded by
Gen. Paul X. Kelley