Thomas DuVall Roberts II

ROBERTS, Thomas Duval II, Col., U.S. Army (Ret.) of Providence Forge, Virginia, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia at the age of 79. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marty; daughter, Martha A. Browne and her husband, Chuck; son, Thomas D. Roberts III and his wife, Pam; and his five loving grandchildren, Matt and Hannah Browne, Sam, Luke and Jane Roberts. Survivors also include his brother, Maj. Heyward B. Roberts Jr., USAF (Ret.) and his family. Col. Roberts was born in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii in 1937, into an Army family and accompanied his parents and brother to numerous posts and stations around the world during his father's military service. He was a graduate of Sewanee Military Academy and the U.S. Military Academy (Class of 1959). Following his graduation from West Point, he completed Infantry Basic, Airborne and Ranger School and received his first assignment in West Germany. He and Marty were married upon his return in February of 1963, in Falls Church, Virginia. After completion of Special Forces training, he shipped off for his first combat duty as commander of Detachment A-22 (Loc Ninh) with the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam. He served subsequent tours with the Green Berets and the 101st Airborne Division in 1965, and 1970. He returned for a tour of duty in the Pentagon and completed his MA in International Affairs at American University. In the early '70's, following his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, he commanded the 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division in Aschaffenburg, Germany, helping to safeguard the NATO alliance from the Soviet threat during the Cold War. After he and his family returned to the U.S. in 1976, he served on the staff of the Infantry School in Ft. Benning, Georgia and as Director of the School of International Studies at the JFK Special Warfare Center in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He completed his military service as Sr. Advisor to the 77th US Army Reserve Command, retiring from active duty at the end of 1981. His decorations included the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, Special Forces tab, Ranger tab and Vietnam Cross. Following his retirement, he pursued a civilian career which concluded as a small business owner, eventually retiring in Tidewater, Virginia with Marty. He leaves his family with a legacy of proud service, quiet fortitude and wry humor. He loved Fox News, Johnny Cash and John Wayne. His pride in his membership in the Band of Brothers West Point Class of '59, was only exceeded by his pride in his grandchildren. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. His family asks for contributions to be made to Fisher House Foundation or Special Operations Warrior Foundation.