US Marine Cops Lt. General Louis Bentham Robertshaw was born August 1, 1912 in Philadelphia and died July 14, 2003 in Chestertown, Kent County. He graduated the US Naval Academy June 4, 1936 and was commissioned a Marine Second Lieutenant. In his senior year at the academy he was Captain of the football team and received honors for excellence in athletics. After several stops for tours of duty he completed Basic School for Marine Corps Officers at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in June 1937 and that same month embarked for duty in China with the 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Brigade and participated in the defense of the International Settlement in Shanghai until early 1938. Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant he returned to the United States in 1940 and was assigned to the Naval Academy as Executive Officer of the Marine Detachment and as coach in football and basketball. Early in 1942 he entered flight school at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla., and upon graduation in August 1942 he was designated a Naval Aviator and promoted to Major. In December 1942 he assumed command of Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132, Marine Aircraft Group 11. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his air attack on a group of Japanese transports in which he scored a direct hit on one transport and severely damaged land installations in the Solomons area in November and December 1942. A second Distinguished Flying Cross and six Air Medals were awarded Robertshaw for bombing operations in the Solomons. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in late December 1943 and returned to the United States in 1946 assigned to Marine Air West Coast, San Diego. In 1948 he began a two-year tour of duty as Commanding Officer, Marine Air Detachment, Naval Air Station in Willow Grove, Pa. In February 1951 he was promoted to Colonel and ordered to Korea in August of 1952. For outstanding service in Korea during which he flew 77 missions, he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat V. a third Distinguished Flying Cross, and his seventh through 11th Air Medals. He returned to the United States in June 1953 and was stationed at Quantico. In 1954 he served two years on the staff of the Commander in Chief, Pacific, at Pearl Harbor. IN 1956 he returned to Quantico. In 1959 he was promoted to Brigadier General and assumed duties as Assistant Wing Commander, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Iwaunki, Japan. He was promoted to Major General in January 1964 and his next command was the 1st Marine Aircrtaft Wing in the far east in May of 1966. For meritorious achievement in aerial flights in Vietnam January 1967 through May 1967 he received the Gold Star in lieu of his 12th Air Medal. On July 1, 1967 he assumed duties as Marine Corps Liaison Officer on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations for which he was awarded the Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit. On July 12, 1968 he was named Inspector General of the Marine Corps and while serving in that position was nominated for promotion to Lieutenant General. He received his third star on April 22, 1969 and now Lt. General Robertshaw assumed duties as Deputy Chief of Staff (Manpower) and Director of Personnel at HQMC. He retired from active duty on July 1, 1971 after 39 years of Marine Corps Service. He was buried at the US Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis.
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 10:04:59 +0000
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