Retired 2-star Marshall dies at 86 - Army News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Army Times MONTROSE, Ala. — Retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert C. Marshall, who served in World War II and Vietnam and played a role in American’s space race, has died at his home in Montrose. He was 86. Marshall’s health declined steadily following the September death of Mary Elizabeth Marshall, his wife of 60 years. He died Saturday surrounded by family members. Marshall, a West Point graduate, is survived by seven children, including Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Ga. The death was reported Monday by the Mobile Press-Register, where another of Marshall’s sons, Mike Marshall, serves as editor. Marshall served in World War II and received the Purple Heart after being shot in the chest by a sniper in France. Other honors included the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster. Marshall was commander of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Mobile district office from 1964 to 1967. He left Mobile for Vietnam and, following his return to the U.S., served for four years as commander of the SAFEGUARD Systems Command at Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal. That was the original name for the anti-ballistic missile system later called “Star Wars.” While in Mobile, and later at Redstone, Marshall worked with German scientist Wernher von Braun, who developed rockets for the American space program. In Mobile, Marshall assisted NASA and von Braun in building the rocket test facility in Bay St. Louis, Miss., said Mike Marshall. In 1977, nearing the end of his career, Marshall was appointed by President Carter to serve as president of the Mississippi River Commission, which is responsible for maintaining the Mississippi River below St. Louis as a navigable waterway and for flood control. Upon his retirement, the Marshalls settled at Montrose near Mobile. Survivors, in addition to Mike Marshall of Mobile and Jim Marshall of Macon, include sons Robert Marshall of Atlanta and John Marshall of Mobile and daughters Mary Elizabeth Kennedy of Hartsell, Sarah C. Marshall of Washington, D.C., and Priscilla Danner of Dallas. Marshall is also survived by 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Services are being planned for early April at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
