Robert H . Barrow Robert Hilliard Barrow ( February 5 , 1922 – October 30 , 2008 ) was an American general , who was the 27th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps ( USMC ) from 1979 to 1983 . Barrow served for 41 years , including overseas command duty in three wars . He was awarded the Navy Cross for actions during the Korean War and the Distinguished Service Cross for actions during the Vietnam War . Biography . Early life . Barrow was born on February 5 , 1922 , in Baton Rouge , Louisiana , and grew up on his family ’ s Rosale Plantation in West Feliciana Parish , Louisiana . The family ’ s circumstances were difficult . They had no electricity , so Barrow satisfied an early passion for reading by using a kerosene lamp . Because it offered free tuition and low boarding costs , Barrow attended Louisiana State University from 1939 to 1942 , working as a waiter and a janitor and served in the university ' s Corps of Cadets . World War II . In 1942 , Barrow left the university early to join the Marine Corps . He attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and was retained as a Drill Instructor after his graduation . While serving on the drill field , he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School in February 1943 . He was commissioned a second lieutenant on May 19 , 1943 . During World War II , Barrow served with the Sino - American Cooperative Organization which was a U . S . trained and equipped Chinese guerilla team in Japanese - occupied Central China . For his service , he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V . Korean War . During the Korean War , Barrow commanded Company A , 1st Battalion 1st Marines in the Inchon - Seoul campaign and in the Chosin Reservoir campaign . For his heroism in holding a pass near Koto - ri on December 9 – 10 , 1950 , he was awarded the Navy Cross . Interwar years . In February 1956 , Barrow began an 18 - month tour with the 2nd Battalion , 6th Marines at Camp Lejeune , North Carolina . From the summer of 1957 to the summer of 1960 , he served as the Marine Officer Instructor , at the Tulane University Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps . In September 1959 , he was promoted to lieutenant colonel . Colonel Barrow graduated from the National War College in June 1968 . Vietnam War . After graduating from the National War College , Barrow served in Vietnam , as Commanding Officer , 9th Marines , 3rd Marine Division ( Rein ) and as Deputy G - 3 , III Marine Amphibious Force . While in command of the 9th Marines , the regiment saw combat near the DMZ , Khe Sanh , Da Krong Valley , and A Shau Valley . He received the Army Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism in Operation Dewey Canyon . Barrow ' s Distinguished Service Cross citation reads : General officer ; Commandant . In August 1969 , he was promoted to brigadier general , then deployed to Japan to serve as Commanding General at Camp Butler in Okinawa , Japan . He received a Legion of Merit for his three years of service as CG and left Okinawa as a major general select . On promotion to major general , he became Commanding General , Marine Corps Recruit Depot , Parris Island . He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1975 and assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps as Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower . In 1976 , he was named Commanding General , Fleet Marine Force , Atlantic , at Norfolk , Virginia . In July 1978 , Barrow became the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps serving until July 1979 , when he became the Commandant of the Marine Corps . From 1978 to 1979 , Barrow served as President of the Marine Corps Association . General Barrow was the first Commandant to serve , by law , as regular full member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . As Commandant , " he was instrumental in acquiring approval of production for the Marine Corps of the American - modified Harrier aircraft , in awakening interest in new and improved naval gunfire support , in getting amphibious ships included in the Navy ' s new construction programs , and in returning hospital ships to the fleet , especially on station with Marine Corps amphibious task forces . " General Barrow retired from the Marine Corps on 30 June 1983 , and was presented with the Distinguished Service Medal on retirement . Decorations . General Barrow ' s medals and decorations included : Post - military career . After General Barrow ' s retirement from the Marine Corps , he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and to the president ' s Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management . In 1983 , a letter from Barrow to Caspar W . Weinberger was released by the Pentagon . In the letter , Barrow criticized Israeli soldiers in Lebanon , saying that the Israelis were firing on U . S . troops , among other things . Israel denied the charges . Barrow ’ s wife of 53 years , Patty , died in 2005 . Death and funeral . General Barrow died on October 30 , 2008 at the age of 86 . He was survived by his sons Charles C . Pulliam , of Greenville , South Carolina and Robert H . Barrow , a retired lieutenant colonel of Marines , of Tampa , Florida ; his daughters Cathleen P . Harmon , of Killeen , Texas , Barbara B . Kanegaye , of Houston , Texas and Mary B . Hannigan , of Oakton , Virginia , eleven grandchildren and five great - grandchildren . General Barrow was buried with full military honors on November 3 , 2008 . The service was held at Grace Episcopal Church and Cemetery in St . Francisville , the seat of West Feliciana Parish , Louisiana . The Commandant of the Marine Corps , General James T . Conway delivered the eulogy , recognizing Barrow for his many initiatives ranging from recruiting to training ; while former Commandant General Carl Mundy presenting the burial colors to Barrow ’ s next of kin .