Major General Robert C. "Bob" Marshall

Major General Robert C. "Bob" Marshall -MONTROSE, AL - Major General Robert C. "Bob" Marshall, the father of U.S. Representative Jim Marshall of Macon, died at his home in Montrose, Alabama on March 15, 2008 at the age of 86. -He had a long and varied military career that included combat service in World War II and Vietnam as well as a role in America's space race and missile defense efforts. He was the son of Brigadier General James C. Marshall, an Army Combat Engineer. Following his father's footsteps, Bob attended West Point, graduating with a B.S. in Military Science in just three years because of the need for troops in World War II. He later obtained a secondary degree in civil engineering from Cornell University. -As a young Major commanding a combat engineering unit fording rivers in France following D Day, Bob earned a Purple Heart when he was struck in the chest with a sniper's bullet. The bullet landed directly over his heart but fortunately passed through both his binoculars and a thick, hard piece of chocolate before piercing his skin but not his heart. -During his career, Bob also earned the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and numerous other decorations. In addition to his combat commands in Europe and Vietnam, Bob served as Commander of the Corps of Engineers' Mobile District, Commander of the SAFEGUARD Systems Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, and as President of the Mississippi River Commission where he was responsible for mammoth Mississippi River navigation and flood control programs from St. Louis, Missouri to the Gulf. During World War II, Bob's father had been the original military officer assigned to develop the atomic bomb. Continuing in his father's footsteps, while in Mobile, Bob assisted NASA and Werhner Von Braun in building rocket test facilities in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi and Red Stone Arsenal. And while at Redstone, Bob led America's initial foray into missile defense, the Safeguard system eventually scrapped by President Nixon's treaty with China. -In his last years of his life, Bob was the primary caregiver for his wife of 60 years, Mary Elizabeth "Kiki" Marshall. Despite his declining health, he managed to support Kiki comfortably in their home overlooking Mobile Bay until her death on September 12, 2007. -Major General Marshall is survived by seven of his eight children, Rep. Jim Marshall of Macon, Mary Elizabeth Kennedy of Hartselle, Alabama, Michael Marshall and John Marshall of Mobile, Alabama, Sarah C. Marshall of Washington, DC, Robert Marshall of Atlanta, and Priscilla Danner of Dallas, Texas. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, one born hours after his death. His son Elton Allen Marshall predeceased him. -Services are planned for early April 7th, 2008 at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. The family requests that memorials be made to the West Point Fund, 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996. -A book of memorials will be available at Snow's Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street for friends to sign. Robert Marshall