Robert Barrow

BARROW, Gen. Robert H., 86, 27th Commandant of the Marine Corps, died in his sleep October 30, 2008, in his home town, St. Francisville, La. In death he joins his beloved wife of 53 years, Patty, who passed away in 2005. A highly decorated veteran of three wars, Gen. Barrow' s greatest accomplishments were his many enduring reforms to the Marine Corps during his service. Gen. Barrow was born February 5, 1922, in Baton Rouge, La., the third son of Maud and Robert E. Barrow. He grew up in West Feliciana Parish at historic Rosale Plantation and graduated from Julius Freyhan High School. He enrolled at Louisiana State University in 1939, but left school in the fall of 1942 to enlist in the Marine Corps. He attended boot camp in San Diego, Calif., staying on after graduation as a drill instructor. He left San Diego for Officer Candidate School in March 1943, and May 19, 1943, was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Marines. After a brief assignment with Marine Barracks, Naval Ammunition Depot, in New Orleans, La., Gen. Barrow joined the 51st Replacement Battalion at Camp Lejeune, N.C., in February 1944, and deployed to the Far East. During the last seven months of World War II, he led an American team serving with Chinese guerrilla forces in Japanese-occupied central China, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V." After World War II, General Barrow served as Aide de Camp to the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, and completed Amphibious Warfare School. In June 1949, he assumed company command with 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division. At the beginning of the Korean War, his company was redesignated Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Gen. Barrow led his company ashore in the Inchon landing in September 1950. He was awarded the Silver Star after fighting in the vicinity of Seoul, Korea, and was awarded the Navy Cross for actions during the Chosin Reservoir Campaign in December 1950. In 1952, because of his World War II experience in China, Gen. Barrow served away from the Marine Corps, on a special, then-classified mission in the Far East, on a string of islands north of Taiwan and close to the Communist Chinese mainland. Following those duties, General Barrow served in diverse assignments, including Headquarters Marine Corps; 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment; and the Landing Force Development Center. He served as operations officer, III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan ,and as operations plans officer at Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, in Hawaii. In 1968, Gen. Barrow assumed command of 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, in South Vietnam. The regiment conducted a series of highly successful operations, and he received the Army Distinguished Service Cross for his valor during Operation Dewey Canyon in early 1969. Gen. Barrow was promoted to brigadier general in August 1969 and was assigned as commanding general, Marine Corps Base, Camp Butler, Okinawa. He then served as commanding general, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., where he began his efforts to improve the quality of Marines. He continued those efforts when he became deputy chief of staff for Manpower, Headquarters Marine Corps, in 1975, emphasizing recruiting high school graduates, and creating screening programs for recruiters and drill instructors. He was instrumental in the decision to dual hat the commanding generals of the recruit depots as commanding generals of the two recruiting regions. In 1976, he became commanding general, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., and 1978, he was named assistant commandant of the Marine Corps. In 1979, Gen. Barrow was confirmed as commandant of the Marine Corps. He was the first Marine to serve a regular four-year tour as a full member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He continued his leadership in personnel reform, believing that a better quality of recruit led to an increase in performance and retention in an all-volunteer service. Gen. Barrow responded aggressively to racial tension in the Marine Corps, ended tolerance of drug abusers and problem drinkers, and gave commanders the authority to discharge Marines who created recurring problems. Gen. Barrow was instrumental in establishing the now-proven Marine Corps program to pre-position equipment on ships near areas of potential conflict. Gen. Barrow retired from the Marine Corps June 30, 1983. He returned to St. Francisville, La., but continued to serve his country in retirement as a member of the President' s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and the President' s Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management (the Packard Commission). Gen. Barrow' s personal decorations include the Navy Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star Medal, three Legions of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and Gold Star, in lieu of a second award, and the Combat Action Ribbon. Gen. Barrow graduated from the University of Maryland and attended graduate school at Tulane University. He is a graduate of the National War College. He holds honorary doctorates from Tulane University, Louisiana State University and The Citadel. Gen. and Mrs. Barrow are survived by five children, Charles C. Pulliam of Greenville, S.C., Cathleen P. Harmon of Killeen, Texas, Barbara B. Kanegaye of Houston, Texas, Mary B. Hannigan of Oakton, Va., and retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Robert H. Barrow of Tampa; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A funeral for family members and friends will take place at 1 p.m. November 3. Pallbearers are sons, Charles C. Pulliam and retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt.Col. Robert H. Barrow; grandsons, Richard S. Bassett, Robert C. Bassett, Collin J. Hannigan, Mark J. Hannigan, Pierce T. Hannigan, S. Denham Turner III and Scott B. Turner; and nephews, Emmette E. Barrow, formerly with the U.S. Navy, and Bertrand H. Barrow, formerly wiht the U.S. Marine Corps. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to The Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery Fund, 11621 Ferdinand Street, St. Francisville, LA 70775; The Injured Marine/-Semper Fi Fund, 825 College Blvd., Suite 102, PMB #609, Oceanside, CA 92057 (note donation made In Memory of General Barrow); and/or The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Donations, Neuro-Oncology Department, P.O. Box 301402 - Unit 431, Houston, TX 77230-1402 (the address for the UT Cancer Center must read exactly as indicated for funds to reach the cancer center). Charlet Funeral Home Inc. (225) 241-1158