Jarrett Robertson

Robertson was born on September 3, 1940, in Lincoln, Nebraska,{{Cite news |date=March 2, 1993 |title=Maj. Gen. Jarrett J. Robertson |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-news-leader-maj-gen-ja/151274458/ |access-date=July 13, 2024 |work=The Springfield News-Leader |page=4B |via=Newspapers.com }} and raised in Springfield, Missouri.{{Cite web |title=MSU ROTC Hall of Fame |url=https://www.missouristate.edu/MilSci/BearBattalion/Halloffame.htm |access-date=July 12, 2024 |website=Missouri State University |archive-date=July 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710155621/https://www.missouristate.edu/MilSci/BearBattalion/Halloffame.htm |url-status=live }}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MdcfAAAAMAAJ |title=U.S. Army Register: Regular Army Active List |date=January 1, 1969 |publisher=United States War Office |volume=1 |location=Washington, D.C. |page=349 |language=en |access-date=July 12, 2024 |via=Google Books }} Robertson's parents, Lonnie and Thelma Robertson, were notable radio entertainers in the Ozarks.

After graduating from Gainesville High School in 1958, Robertson attended Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU), joining their theatre program and later completing his two years of mandatory ROTC involvement.{{Cite news |last=Peterson |first=Jan |date=February 25, 1993 |title=Son's Death Becomes Biggest Battle for Mom |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-news-leader-sons-death/151166047/ |access-date=July 11, 2024 |work=The Springfield News-Leader |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-news-leader-sons-death/151166047/ 1A], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-news-leader-big-test-loo/151166190/ 6A] |via=Newspapers.com }} He was also a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Robertson graduated from SMSU in 1963. The same year, he married Diana Pecka; they later had five daughters.

In 1971, Robertson graduated from University of Missouri with a Master of Science degree in history.

Robertson's father, Lonnie, died on February 19, 1981, after a four-month illness.{{Cite news |date=February 20, 1981 |title=Lonnie Robertson |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-leader-and-press-obituary-fo/151285243/ |access-date=July 13, 2024 |work=Springfield Leader and Press |page=2B |via=Newspapers.com }} In 1988, Robertson married Debra Whitman.

Robertson began his service in the Regular Army on July 8, 1963, commissioned through ROTC. He joined because of the advice of a sergeant who spoke to him after his two years of ROTC, saying "You're going to face the draft anyway, so if you have to be in the Army you might as well be an officer."{{Cite news |last=Conley |first=Jim |date=July 12, 1987 |title=Cavalry Has New Leader |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-cavalry-has-new-leader/151244500/ |access-date=July 13, 2024 |work=El Paso Times |page=3B |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815075728/https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-cavalry-has-new-leader/151244500/ |url-status=live }}

His first assignment was at Fort Carson, Colorado. In 1965, Robertson was assigned to Vietnam, where he was an advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. In 1966, Robertson received a year of officer training at Fort Benning, Georgia. During that year, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant on July 8, 1966, and to the rank of captain on August 17, 1966. He then returned for a second tour in Vietnam. On November 9, 1968, Robertson took command of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, when its commander, John Hays, was killed in action.{{Cite book |last1=Bahnsen |first1=John C. Jr. |author-link=John Bahnsen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i1IQUoXic4UC |title=American Warrior: A Combat Memoir of Vietnam |last2=Roberts |first2=Wess |date=January 2008 |publisher=Kensington Publishing Corporation |isbn=978-0-8065-2807-6 |page=352 |language=en |access-date=July 13, 2024 |via=Google Books |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815075753/https://books.google.com/books?id=i1IQUoXic4UC |url-status=live }} His leadership of these 400 soldiers earned him a Silver Star Medal.{{Cite web |title=Jarrett J. Robertson |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/85694 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |website=Hall of Valor |publisher=Sightline Media Group |archive-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712134025/https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/85694 |url-status=live }}File:Eisenhower Hall - October 2012.jpg, where Robertson would have studied during his time at CGSC.]]

After this tour in Vietnam, Robertson attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. By 1974, Robertson was a major serving at Fort Leavenworth. From 1980 to 1982, he commanded the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, at Fort Bliss, Texas.{{Cite sign |title=Robertson House |date=October 13, 1995 |type=Plaque |place=Fort Bliss, Texas |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Robertson_House_(Texas)_front_door_plaque.jpg |access-date=July 12, 2024 |via=Wikimedia Commons |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815075502/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Robertson_House_(Texas)_front_door_plaque.jpg |url-status=live }} Sometime later, he commanded the opposing force at the Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC), a unit trained in Soviet military tactics to test other units' tactical abilities.

From July 2, 1987, until 1989, Robertson commanded the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment as its 62nd colonel.{{Cite news |date=July 26, 1994 |title=Cavalry Ceremony |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-cavalry-ceremony/151167243/ |access-date=July 11, 2024 |work=El Paso Times |page=1B |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815075759/https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-cavalry-ceremony/151167243/ |url-status=live }} During this time, he led the unit in its 14-day visit to the Fort Irwin NTC. When he left Fort Bliss, about 5,000 soldiers attended the ceremony, where post commander Donald Infante gave him the nickname "Desert Fox," comparing his skills to those of German field marshal Erwin Rommel, who held the same nickname.

Robertson was then assigned to Schweinfurt, Germany, where he served as the assistant commander of the 3rd Infantry Division. At some point, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, and later to the rank of major general.

From November 1990 to May 1991, he served as the deputy commanding general of the 1st Armored Division during the Gulf War. In June 1991, General Frederick M. Franks Jr. selected Robertson to serve as the chief of staff of the VII Corps.{{Cite book |last1=Clancy |first1=Tom |author-link=Tom Clancy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u-5C1lQ9NCkC |title=Into the Storm: A Study in Command |last2=Franks |first2=Frederick M. Jr. |author-link2=Frederick M. Franks Jr. |last3=Koltz |first3=Tony |author-link3=Tony Koltz |date=May 2007 |publisher=Penguin Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-425-21656-9 |page=438 |language=en |access-date=July 13, 2024 |via=Google Books |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815075746/https://books.google.com/books?id=u-5C1lQ9NCkC |url-status=live }} In 1993, Robertson was appointed the deputy commanding general of V Corps, a position he held until his death the same year.{{Cite news |last=Bodenhausen |first=Kerry G. |date=August 26, 1994 |title=Tower Stands Tall in Memory of SMS Graduate |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-news-leader-tower-stands/151230237/ |access-date=July 12, 2024 |work=The Springfield News-Leader |page=2B |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815075757/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-news-leader-tower-stands/151230237/ |url-status=live }}

Robertson received the following awards for his military service:{{Cite news |last=Ledbetter |first=Kitty |date=November 10, 2022 |title=Remembering 'Superb Soldier' Maj. Gen. Jarrett Jackson Robertson |url=https://www.ozarkcountytimes.com/news-local-news/remembering-%E2%80%98superb-soldier%E2%80%99-maj-gen-jarrett-jackson-robertson |access-date=July 12, 2024 |work=Ozark County Times |archive-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712134027/https://www.ozarkcountytimes.com/news-local-news/remembering-%E2%80%98superb-soldier%E2%80%99-maj-gen-jarrett-jackson-robertson |url-status=live }}

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|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=7|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

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|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991–2016).svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=|ribbon=Army Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=|ribbon=Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon, with 60- clasp.svg|width=106}}

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File:National-Guard-UH-60-Black-Hawk-operations-at-Fort-McCoy.jpg helicopter operated by the U.S. Army]]

Robertson died at the age of 52 on February 23, 1993, at around 7:35{{Nbsp}}p.m. in the crash of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter near Wiesbaden, Germany.{{Cite journal |date=March 1, 1993 |title=Army Safety Center Sends Team To Investigate UH-60 Crash That Kills Four |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43977357 |journal=Inside the Army |publisher=Inside Washington Publishers |volume=5 |issue=9 |page=12 |jstor=43977357 |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 13, 2024 }}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6nRPAQAAIAAJ |title=Product Safety & Liability Reporter |publisher=Bureau of National Affairs |year=2002 |volume=30 |page=251 |language=en |access-date=July 13, 2024 |via=Google Books |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815080157/https://books.google.com/books?id=6nRPAQAAIAAJ |url-status=live }} Returning from a meeting at the United States European Command headquarters in Stuttgart, the helicopter crashed while attempting to land at Wiesbaden Air Base.{{Cite news |title=Crash Victims Named |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-crash-victims/151166496/ |access-date=July 11, 2024 |work=Newsday |page=14 |edition=Suffolk |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815080452/https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-crash-victims/151166496/ |url-status=live }} It hit a concrete apron near the air base's control tower and burst into flames.{{Cite news |date=February 25, 1993 |title=Army's Death Toll From Copter Crash Includes Commander, Top Aides |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-armys-death-toll/151166918/ |access-date=July 11, 2024 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |location=Bonn, Germany |page=A3 |agency=The Washington Post |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815080334/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-armys-death-toll/151166918/ |url-status=live }} Four service members, including Robertson, died in the crash, and four others were hospitalized with burns.{{Cite web |last=Mountcastle |first=Clay |title=A Call from Home, A Loss Hits Home |url=https://vawarmemorial.org/a-call-from-home-a-loss-hits-home/ |access-date=July 11, 2024 |website=Virginia War Memorial |archive-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712043033/https://vawarmemorial.org/a-call-from-home-a-loss-hits-home/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=February 25, 1993 |title=Copter Victims Are Identified |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-copter-victims-are-identified/151166686/ |access-date=July 11, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |location=Germany |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815080154/https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-copter-victims-are-identified/151166686/ |url-status=live }}

Robertson was honored with a funeral at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. He was buried at Lutie Cemetery in Theodosia, Missouri.

United Technologies Corporation (UTC)'s subsidiary Sikorsky Aircraft created a fuel system that held two {{Convert|230|gal|adj=on}} tanks on the helicopter's sides.{{Cite news |last=Bradford |first=Michael |date=March 31, 2002 |title=Defense Contractor Liable in Chopper Crash |url=https://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20020331/STORY/10009339 |access-date=July 13, 2024 |work=Business Insurance |location=New York |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713135052/https://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20020331/STORY/10009339 |url-status=live }} After an investigation by V Corps concluded on June 8, the crash was believed to have occurred because of a failed fuel control valve, causing the helicopter to use fuel from only the left tank, leaving the right tank nearly full and the helicopter imbalanced.{{Cite journal |last=Moag |first=Jeffrey |date=June 24, 1993 |title=Blackhawk Crash Blamed on Failed Fuel Control Valve |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43993134 |journal=Inside the Pentagon |publisher=Inside Washington Publishers |volume=9 |issue=25 |pages=1–2 |jstor=43993134 |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 13, 2024 }}

The investigation found other factors that may have influenced the shift in balance to the right side of the aircraft. Prior to the flight, military police in Stuttgart left the Black Hawk unattended for some time, allowing two German boys to steal a cold weather emergency kit from the helicopter. This led to a delay on the ground, causing the auxiliary power unit, which only uses the left fuel tank, to run longer and use approximately {{Convert|335|lbs}} of fuel from the left tank. Additionally, most of the passengers were seated on the right side of the aircraft, further contributing to its imbalance.

The investigation concluded that both pilots aboard the helicopter acted appropriately given their circumstances and that neither were under the influence of alcohol or drugs before the flight.

In 2002, the pilot and other surviving service members from the crash, along with the deceased officers' widows, filed a negligence and product liability lawsuit against UTC. After 11 days of trial, the jury sided against UTC and awarded $22.9 million (approximately ${{Inflation|index=US|value=22.9|start_year=2002}} million in {{Inflation/year|US}}) in damages.

Robertson has been described as having an infectious confidence and strong leadership skills. Major General Donald R. Infante particularly praised him for his practical after-action reviews (AARs), saying Robertson gave "the best AAR [he'd] ever witnessed" and focusing on the positive learning environment Robertson created.{{Cite journal |last=Infante |first=Donald R. |date=September–October 1988 |title=Making Training Priority No. 1 Part III |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cuerhd6C6OEC |journal=Air Defense Artillery |publisher=United States Army Air Defense Artillery School |page=2 |issn=0740-803X |access-date=July 13, 2024 |via=Google Books |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815080156/https://books.google.com/books?id=cuerhd6C6OEC |url-status=live }}File:Robertson House (Texas) in 2024.jpg, Texas, in 2024|alt=A tan brick two-story house in Queen Anne-style architecture is shown from the front side.]]The 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment dedicated a remodeled conference room to Robertson in July 1994. In August 1994, Southwest Missouri State University dedicated a new {{Convert|43|ft|1+1/2|in|m|adj=on}} rappelling tower for their ROTC program to Robertson. On October 13, 1995, the house at 231 Sheridan Rd on Fort Bliss, Texas, was dedicated to Robertson and named the Robertson House.{{Cite sign |title=Quarters 231: Robertson House |date= |type=Plaque |place=Fort Bliss, Texas |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Robertson_House_(Texas)_front_lawn_plaque.jpg |access-date=July 12, 2024 |via=Wikimedia Commons |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815080016/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Robertson_House_(Texas)_front_lawn_plaque.jpg |url-status=live }}

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Category:1940 births

Category:1993 deaths

Category:Missouri State University alumni

Category:University of Missouri alumni

Category:20th-century United States Army personnel

Category:United States Army generals

Category:Recipients of the Silver Star

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)

Category:Recipients of the Air Medal

Category:Victims of helicopter accidents or incidents

Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Germany

Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1993