GENERAL ROSCOE ROBINSON JR.
THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN FOUR-STAR GENERAL
IN THE ARMY
The University of Pittsburg graduated with a master’s degree in international affairs.
United States Military Academy at West Point in 1947. He completed his academics and graduated with a degree in military engineering in 1951.
In 1967 Roscoe served as a battalion commander in Vietnam. For his achievements there he received the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, 11 Air Medals, and two Silver Stars.
After Vietnam, he served at the National War College for three years as the executive officer to the Chief of Staff. He was promoted to Brigadier General and in 1975 became Commanding General of the United States Army Garrison, Okinawa. In brief, his general officer assignments included deputy commander and later commander of U.S. Army Forces in Okinawa, commander of his beloved 82nd Airborne Division, deputy chief of staff for Operations for US Army Europe, and commander of US Army Japan and IX Corps.
In 1976 he was promoted to major general and assigned to command the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. GENERAL ROSCOE ROBINSON JR. BECAME IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO COMMAND 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION.
General Robinson’s 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 in 1985. He was then awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and two Distinguished Service Medals.
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. After about 18 years and eight months of battle with leukemia, General Roscoe Robinson, Jr. died on July 22, 1993, at the age of 64, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He left behind Mille and Brue and his daughter Carol.
After General Roscoe Robinson Jr. died of Leukemia in 1993 his west point classmates wrote a tribute to him saying he would be remembered for many reasons, but especially as the first African American Fur Star Army General.
“ We are proud of Robby’s accomplishments He is the role model for thousands of young black soldiers during thirty-five years of service and to this day”