Louis Bentham Robertshaw | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname | "Ben" |
| Born | (1912-08-01)August 1, 1912 |
| Died | July 14, 2003(2003-07-14) (aged 90) Chestertown, Maryland, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1936–1971 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant general |
| Service number | 0-5294 |
| Commands | VMSB-132 1st Marine Aircraft Wing |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Air Medal (12) |
Louis Bentham Robertshaw (August 1, 1912 – July 14, 2003) was an Americanfootball player andlieutenant general in theUnited States Marine Corps. He flew combat missions inWorld War II and theKorean War and flew anF4B Phantom II fighter in theVietnam War as commanding general of the1st Marine Aircraft Wing. He received threeDistinguished Flying Crosses, 12Air Medals, theNavy Distinguished Service Medal, and threeLegion of Merit with Combat "V."
Robertshaw graduated from Haverford Township High School inHavertown, Pennsylvania, in 1930.[1] He entered theUnited States Naval Academy atAnnapolis, Maryland, in 1932, playedcenter forNavy Midshipmen football team and was selected as a third-teamAll-American in 1935.[2]
After graduating from theUnited States Naval Academy, Robertshaw was commissioned a second lieutenant in theUnited States Marine Corps in June 1936.[1] He was assigned to thePhiladelphia Navy Yard where he completedThe Basic School for Marine Corps officers in June 1937.[1] He served with the6th Marine Regiment inShanghai,China, and participated in the defense of theInternational Settlement inShanghai from October 1937 to February 1938.[1] In July 1939, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant while serving in China with the2nd Battalion, 4th Marines.[1]
In August 1940, Robertshaw was assigned to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he served as the executive officer of the Marine detachment and as a coach for theNavy Midshipmen in football and basketball.[1]
In October 1941, while serving as an instructor at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Robertshaw was promoted to the rank of captain.[1]
In February 1942, two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Robertshaw entered flight school at thePensacola Naval Air Station. He completed the course in August 1942 and became aNaval Aviator with the rank of major.[1]
In October 1942, Robertshaw was assigned to serve atNoumea inNew Caledonia.[1] He assumed command ofMarine Scout Bombing Squadron 132 (VMSB-132), anSBD Dauntlessdive bomber squadron,[3][4] in December 1942, after the prior commanding officer became a casualty.[1] At the end of October 1942, VMSB-132 landed atHenderson Field,Guadalcanal. Upon arrival, they became part of theCactus Air Force and fought during theBattle of Guadalcanal until December 1942 when they were relieved byVMSB-233.[5] Robertshaw's unit moved toEspiritu Santo where they became part of the Strike Command of the13th Air Force, responsible for attacking nearby enemy bases and shipping and giving what was then considered close support to front-line units. The squadron returned to Guadalcanal in June 1943. Robertshaw was awarded twoDistinguished Flying Crosses and six Air Medals for his service in World War II, including an air attack on a group of Japanese transports in which Robertshaw scored a direct hit on one transport and severely damaged land installations in the area of theSolomon Islands in November and December 1942.[1] Robertshaw was promoted to lieutenant colonel in December 1943.[1]
In January 1944, Robertshaw returned to the United States, where he became the commanding officer ofMarine Base Defense Group 41 atMarine Corps Air Station El Toro,California.[1]
In June 1945, he was assigned to serve as Assistant G-3, Aircraft,Fleet Marine Force Pacific atMarine Corps Air Station Ewa,Hawaii. He was later assigned to serve as Marine Aviation Officer on the staff of the Commander of Naval Activities in Japan.[1]
Robertshaw returned to the United States in July 1946 and served at the Marine Corps Air Stations inMiramar, California, El Toro, andWillow Grove, Pennsylvania. He later served in the Division of Aviation atMarine Corps Headquarters. He was promoted to the rank of colonel in February 1951.[1]
In August 1952, Robertshaw was sent to Korea, where he became the commanding officer ofMarine Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33). He flew 77 missions in Korea from September 1952 to May 1953,[1] flying anF9F Panther jet while stationed at Pusan Air Base.[4] For his service in theKorean War, Robertshaw was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V," a third Distinguished Flying Cross, and five Air Medals.[1]
From July 1954 to August 1956, Robertshaw served on the staff of theCommander in Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) atPearl Harbor.[1]
From 1956 to 1957, Robertshaw was a member of the Advanced Research Group, Marine Corps Educational Center, in Quantico. Beginning in 1957, he served as the assistant chief of staff, G-3, and later Chief of Staff of the2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW), at theMarine Corps Air Station Cherry Point,North Carolina. During 1957, Robertshaw also served as the Marine Corps liaison officer duringOperation Deep Water inTurkey.[1]
In November 1959, Robertshaw became the assistant wing commander, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing atMarine Corps Air Station Iwakuni,Japan.[1] Upon his return from Japan he became the Commander of Marine Air Reserve Training atNaval Air Station Glenview,Illinois.
During theVietnam War, he flew an F-4B Phantom II fighter and served as commanding general of the1st Marine Aircraft Wing inDa Nang,[4] then as the Marine liaison for theChief of Naval Operations. He rose to the rank oflieutenant general and was the Inspector General of the Marine Corps from July 1967 to March 1969.[6] He was the deputy chief of staff for manpower atHeadquarters Marine Corps when he retired in 1971.[4]
Robertshaw died of cancer in 2003 at age 90. He was survived by his wife, Marjo Robertshaw and four sons, Larry, Chad, David and Dan.[4]
Here is the ribbon bar of Lieutenant General Robertshaw:[1][4]
 | |||
 |    |  |   |
  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
