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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Donald Lorne Roberts
Donald Lorne
Roberts
Oct 1, 1926 — Feb 1, 2018
Port Angeles
Donald Lorne Roberts' Obituary
Colonel Donald Lorne Roberts, U.S. Army-Retired, passed away Thursday, February 1, 2018 at his Port Angeles home. He was 91.
Born in Bend, Oregon and grew up in Grays Harbor County, Washington; he moved to Hoquiam, Washington following his marriage to Ruth Corier in 1943.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1944. Following basic training at Camp Roberts, California, he was assigned to F Company, 307th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division in the Pacific Theater during WWII where he participated in the Philippine and Okinawa operations.
At the end of WWII he remained with the 77th Infantry Division in its occupation of Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan.
In 1945 he reenlisted and was assigned to D Company, 188th Parachute Infantry at Sendai, Japan in northern Honshu. At this location, a reserve commission based on WWII service caught up with him. He remained in the Regular Army as a Non-Commissioned Officer.
On returning to the States in 1949 he was assigned as the First Sergeant of C Company, 187th Parachute Infantry followed by assignment as the 187th Sergeant Major.
When the Korean War broke out, he was activated as a Lieutenant of Infantry and assigned to E Company, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. He completed the 1950-51 Korean tour as Company Commander, F Company of the 187th.
On returning to the States he was assigned various duties with the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Fort Benning, Georgia, returning to Korea in 1952 with the 40th Infantry Division where he was promoted to Captain.
At the end of the Korean War in 1953, he was assigned to Headquarters Far East Command, returning to the States in 1954 with duty at Headquarters XVIII Corps. at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was then assigned as Company Commander of the 187th ARCT followed by the Infantry Advance Course in 1956 at Fort Benning. He again returned to the 187th at Fort Campbell as the Company Commander of D Company.
This was followed by promotion to Major and assignment as a student at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. At the completion of this course the next assignment was a four year tour in the Army General Staff at Washington D.C. where he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
In 1964 he was assigned as the Senior Advisor, Vinh Long Province in Viet Nam. He was evacuated in 1966 to Madigan General Hospital followed by duty as Chief Attack Committee at the Infantry School at Fort Benning. He again returned to Viet Nam in 1966, returning in 1967 and command of an Infantry Battalion at Fort Benning. This was followed by a third tour in Viet Nam.
He returned to the States in 1968, was promoted to Colonel and assigned as Chief of Staff, Recruiting Command at Hampton, Virginia. He retired in 1970 and returned to Clallam County, Washington where he and his wife built their home on Billy Smith Road.
A memorial service with Military Honors will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tues. February 13, 2018 at Drennan & Ford Funeral Home, 260 Monroe Road, Port Angeles, WA.
Please sign the online guestbook for his family at www.drennanford.com .
Born in Bend, Oregon and grew up in Grays Harbor County, Washington; he moved to Hoquiam, Washington following his marriage to Ruth Corier in 1943.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1944. Following basic training at Camp Roberts, California, he was assigned to F Company, 307th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division in the Pacific Theater during WWII where he participated in the Philippine and Okinawa operations.
At the end of WWII he remained with the 77th Infantry Division in its occupation of Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan.
In 1945 he reenlisted and was assigned to D Company, 188th Parachute Infantry at Sendai, Japan in northern Honshu. At this location, a reserve commission based on WWII service caught up with him. He remained in the Regular Army as a Non-Commissioned Officer.
On returning to the States in 1949 he was assigned as the First Sergeant of C Company, 187th Parachute Infantry followed by assignment as the 187th Sergeant Major.
When the Korean War broke out, he was activated as a Lieutenant of Infantry and assigned to E Company, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. He completed the 1950-51 Korean tour as Company Commander, F Company of the 187th.
On returning to the States he was assigned various duties with the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Fort Benning, Georgia, returning to Korea in 1952 with the 40th Infantry Division where he was promoted to Captain.
At the end of the Korean War in 1953, he was assigned to Headquarters Far East Command, returning to the States in 1954 with duty at Headquarters XVIII Corps. at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was then assigned as Company Commander of the 187th ARCT followed by the Infantry Advance Course in 1956 at Fort Benning. He again returned to the 187th at Fort Campbell as the Company Commander of D Company.
This was followed by promotion to Major and assignment as a student at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. At the completion of this course the next assignment was a four year tour in the Army General Staff at Washington D.C. where he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
In 1964 he was assigned as the Senior Advisor, Vinh Long Province in Viet Nam. He was evacuated in 1966 to Madigan General Hospital followed by duty as Chief Attack Committee at the Infantry School at Fort Benning. He again returned to Viet Nam in 1966, returning in 1967 and command of an Infantry Battalion at Fort Benning. This was followed by a third tour in Viet Nam.
He returned to the States in 1968, was promoted to Colonel and assigned as Chief of Staff, Recruiting Command at Hampton, Virginia. He retired in 1970 and returned to Clallam County, Washington where he and his wife built their home on Billy Smith Road.
A memorial service with Military Honors will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tues. February 13, 2018 at Drennan & Ford Funeral Home, 260 Monroe Road, Port Angeles, WA.
Please sign the online guestbook for his family at www.drennanford.com .
To send flowers with our preferred florist or plant a memorial tree, please visit our flower store.
Funeral Services for Donald Lorne Roberts
Memorial Service
February
13
Tuesday
Drennan & Ford Funeral Home and Crematory
Starts at 1:00 pm
Donald Lorne Roberts' Guestbook
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