Thomas Wayne Robison – Major General, United States Army

Courtesy of the United States Army

Soldier’s Soldier’ Buried At Arlington National Cemetery

Major General Thomas Wayne Robison, described as a “soldier’s soldier” when inducted into the Quartermaster Hall of Fame in June, died 1 September 1998 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was interred next to his daughter, Katherine Klimowicz, 9 September 1998, at Arlington National Cemetery.

Major General Robison was born in Good Hope, Georgia, 8 October 1939. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical science. He earned a master of arts degree in education administration from Tulane University. His military education included the Quartermaster School Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Armed Forces Staff College and the United States Army War College.

During more than 34 years as a Quartermaster officer, Major General Robison held a variety of significant command and staff positions, culminating in his assignment as Deputy Commanding General, Combined Arms Support, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and as Commanding General, U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee, Virginia. He retired from active duty 31 July 1996.

Other key assignments included Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Washington, DC; Director of Logistics (J4), U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Georgia; Deputy Commanding General, 22d Theater Area Command (Operation Desert Storm), Saudi Arabia; Commander, Army and Air Force Exchange Service Europe, Germany; and Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Japan and IX Corps.

Major General Robison served in many career-building assignments. He was Commander, Battery C, 8th Missile Battalion (HAWK), 1st Artillery, 30th Artillery Brigade (Air Defense), U.S. Army Pacific Command, Okinawa; Commander, Forward Service Support Element, 101st Support Command, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), U.S. Army, Vietnam; Inspector General, U.S. Army Materiel Command; Inspector General, Field Office, St. Louis, Missouri; Logistics Staff Officer, Logistics Management Branch, Materiel and Services Division, Director of Logistics, U.S. Army Military Assistance Command, Vietnam; Logistics Staff Officer, War Reserves Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, U.S. Army, Washington, DC; Commander, Division Support Command, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; and Commander, 1st Corps Support Command, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit (with two Oak Leaf Clusters); Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster); Meritorious Service Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters); Joint Service Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Commendation Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters); Parachutist Badge; and Army Staff Identification Badge.

Major General Robison is survived by his widow, Katherine, and daughter, Margaret, and his mother, Adelle M. Robison, and his brother and sister-in-law, Truman and Jane Robison, of Good Hope, Georgia.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard