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Robert B. Johnston

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Robert B. Johnston
Johnston c. 1993
Birth nameRobert Ballantyne Johnston
Born(1937-10-06)October 6, 1937
Edinburgh, Scotland
DiedOctober 19, 2023(2023-10-19) (aged 86)
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1961–1995
RankLieutenant General
CommandsII Marine Expeditionary Force
Marine Forces Europe
Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic
Camp Pendleton
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Officer Candidates School
8th Marine Regiment
2nd Battalion, 8th Marines
Battles / warsVietnam War
Gulf War
Operation Restore Hope
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Robert B. Johnston in 1991 at National Victory Celebration.

Robert Ballantyne Johnston (October 6, 1937 – October 19, 2023) was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general whose last duty assignment was as Commander, Marine Forces Atlantic, Marine Forces Europe and II Marine Expeditionary Force. During the Gulf War, he served as the Central Command Chief-of-Staff. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1995 after over 34 years of service. Johnston died on October 19, 2023, at the age of 86.[1]

Early life and education

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Robert Ballantyne Johnston was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on October 6, 1937. He immigrated to the United States in 1955 and graduated from San Diego State College[2] with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1961. He received a Master of Business Administration from the United States International University in 1975.[3] He was also a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Military career

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Early career

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Johnston was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in December 1961. His first tour of duty was with the 1st Marine Brigade in Hawaii as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer and Assistant Regimental S-3, respectively. In May 1965, he deployed with the Brigade to Vietnam, where he served as Assistant Regimental S-3. He served a second tour in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968, as a Rifle Company Commander in the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines and as Assistant G-2, 3rd Marine Division. He was promoted to first lieutenant in June 1963 and captain in September 1965.[3]

Between his Vietnam tours, Johnston served as Commanding Officer, Guard Company, \ Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., from July 1965 to October 1966. Transferring to Marine Corps Base Quantico, he completed the Amphibious Warfare School in July 1968, and was subsequently assigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, in August, where he served as Assistant G-3, Staff Secretary and Executive Officer of 2nd Recruit Training Battalion until August 1972. He was promoted to major in October 1971.[3]

Following an assignment to the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group in Korea from 1972 to 1973, Johnston completed graduate school in San Diego in March 1975. He returned to Headquarters Marine Corps for a three-year tour serving in the Manpower Plans and Policy Division as Manpower Systems Analyst, then as Head, Enlisted Plans Section. While at Headquarters, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in March 1978.[3]

From August 1978 to June 1979, Johnston was a student at the National War College, Washington, D.C., then assumed duties as the Aide-de-Camp to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (June 1979 to May 1981).[3]

Johnston then assumed command of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina from July 1981 to February 1983, and commanded the 8th Marine Regiment from 8 February 1983 to 22 May 1984.[4] He was promoted to colonel in May 1983 while at Camp Lejeune.[3] Johnston relinquished command of 8th Marines to Col. John P. Brickley.

General officer

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Johnston was assigned to Quantico in May 1984 to assume command of Officer Candidates School. While serving in this capacity, he was selected for promotion to brigadier general in December 1986. He was advanced to that grade on August 21, 1987, and assumed duty as the Assistant Division Commander, 3rd Marine Division in September 1987. He was assigned additional duty as the Commanding General, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade in November 1987. On May 26, 1988, General Johnston was assigned as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Base, Camp S.D. Butler. On May 4, 1990, he was promoted to major general and on June 15, 1990 he was assigned to United States Central Command as the Chief of Staff.[3]

In August 1990, he deployed with CENTCOM to Saudi Arabia, where he served as the Chief of Staff to General Norman Schwarzkopf during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.[5] In May 1991, he returned to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida and was assigned as the Deputy Commander in Chief and Chief of Staff, United States Central Command.[3]

Johnston was advanced to lieutenant general on August 27, 1991, and assumed duty as Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force and Commanding General, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, on September 6, 1991. He relinquished command of Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton on June 19, 1992. In December 1992, as Commanding General of I MEF, Johnston lead U.S. and allied troops in a United Nations mandated mission, Operation Restore Hope, to deliver relief supplies to Somalia.[3][6]

On July 8, 1993 he assumed his final assignment as Commander, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, II Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Forces Europe on July 19, 1993. Lieutenant General Johnston retired on August 1, 1995 after 34 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps.[7][8]

Personal life

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Johnston was a fitness enthusiast and a sports fan. He reportedly ran five miles every day and in his mid-fifties he achieved a perfect score on the Marine Physical Fitness Test. He was a fan of football, rugby, and soccer.[9]

Decorations and awards

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Johnston's decorations include:

V
Gold star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Silver star
1st Row Defense Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal w/ valor device Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 award star
2nd Row Joint Service Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Combat Action Ribbon Navy Presidential Unit Citation
3rd Row Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
4th Row National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal w/ 3 service stars Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 2 service stars
5th Row Humanitarian Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ silver star
6th Row Order of the Phoenix King Faisal Award, 2d Class Vietnam Gallantry Cross unit citation Vietnam Campaign Medal

Notes

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This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
  1. ^ "Robert Ballantyne Johnston". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  2. ^ Simmons, Edwin Howard (2003). The United States Marines: A History. Naval Institute Press. p. 289. ISBN 1-55750-868-2. Retrieved 30 December 2008. Carlton Fulford Vietnam Marine.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Official Biography: Lieutenant General Robert B. Johnston — Retired". Biographies: General Officers & Senior Executives. Manpower & Reserve Affairs, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ "2ND MARINE DIVISION AND ITS REGIMENTS" (PDF). www.usmcu.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  5. ^ Warren, James A. (2007). American Spartans: The U.S. Marines: A Combat History from Iwo Jima to Iraq. Simon and Schuster. p. 411. ISBN 978-1-4165-3297-2. Retrieved 30 December 2008. Marine General Robert B. Johnston.
  6. ^ Schmitt, Eric (8 December 1992). "Mission to Somalia; From Gulf to Somalia: General Marches On". New York Times. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  7. ^ "General Officer Announcement (Retirement of Lieutenant General Robert B. Johnston)" (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. 22 June 1995. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  8. ^ "MARINES COMMANDER ENDS MILITARY CAREER AT LEJEUNE". Greensboro News & Record. May 24, 1995.
  9. ^ Kraft, Scott (January 26, 1993). "Profile : U.S. Point Man in Somalia Is a Marine's Marine : Robert B. Johnston is a no-nonsense three-star general. However, he also has proven to be a consummate diplomat". Los Angeles Times.

Bibliography

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  • Frank, Benis M. (1987). U.S. Marines in Lebanon 1982–1984. Washington, D.C.: History and Museums Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 30 December 2008. Then-LtCol. Johnston commanded the BLT 2/8 in Beirut.
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