Robert M. Shoemaker
{{Short description|United States general}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Robert M. Shoemaker
| image = RobertShoemaker2.JPG
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1924|2|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = Almont, Michigan
| death_date = {{death date and age|2017|6|21|1924|2|18|df=y}}
| death_place = Harker Heights, Texas
| placeofburial =
| allegiance = United States
| branch = United States Army
| serviceyears = 1946–1982
| rank = General
| servicenumber =
| unit =
| commands = United States Army Forces Command
III Corps
1st Cavalry Division
1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment
1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment
| battles = Korean War
Vietnam War
| awards = Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
| relations =
| laterwork = Commissioner, Bell County, Texas
| signature = Robert Shoemaker signature.svg
}}
Robert Morin Shoemaker (18 February 1924 – 21 June 2017) was a United States Army general and former commander of the United States Army Forces Command. He is also an inductee into the Aviation Hall of Fame.
Early life and military career
Shoemaker was born on 18 February 1924, in Almont, Michigan.{{cite book|title=Military construction appropriations for 1977: hearings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Ninety-fourth Congress, second session|author=United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on Military Construction Appropriations|date=1976|publisher=U.S. Govt. Print. Off.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=thA7AAAAMAAJ|accessdate=2015-04-13}} He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1946, and was commissioned in the infantry. Prior to that, he had enlisted in the United States Navy as an officer candidate. However, before he graduated and entered active duty in the navy, he joined the army.{{Cite web|url=http://kdhnews.com/obituaries/robert-morin-shoemaker/article_ee22e1cc-5944-11e7-88ae-9b10d0108e13.html|title=Robert Morin Shoemaker|website=The Killeen Daily Herald|date=25 June 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-13}} He served in various assignment in the 1st Infantry Division, the 82nd Airborne Division and the 2nd Infantry Division. He subsequently became the Infantry Branch assignments officer, and later was an advisor to the Iranian military.
In 1960 Shoemaker earned his aviator's wings, and remained a member of the faculty at the Aviation School. In 1962, he served on the Tactical Mobility Requirements Board, also known as the Howze Board, which developed many of the principles used in air assault operations. He was then sent to Vietnam to assess the potential of army aviation. He was assigned to the experimental 11th Air Assault Division at Fort Benning as division G-3. The division's personnel and equipment were transferred to the newly raised 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). In July 1965 he was given command of 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment. In December 1965, he assumed command of 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, which was the only air cavalry squadron in the Army at the time.
Shoemaker returned to the United States and, following a tour at the Pentagon, he returned for his third tour of duty in Vietnam as Chief of Staff for the 1st Cavalry Division. In 1969 he became Assistant Division Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division. Shoemaker then served as Commander, 1st Cavalry Division and Commander, III Corps. In 1977, Shoemaker was assigned as Deputy Commander, United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), and a year later was promoted to general and became commander of FORSCOM.
Awards and decorations
| 125px
|Combat Infantryman Badge (2nd award) |
| 120px |
| 80px |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=60}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=60}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=60}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}12px12px
|Air Medal with bronze award numerals 45 |
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=60}} |
| 60px |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=60}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=60}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster |
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean_Service_Medal_-_Ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|Korean Service Medal with one bronze service star |
| {{ribbon devices|number=7|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|Vietnam Service Medal with seven service stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-First Class.svg|width=60}}
|Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Order, 1st class |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with palm.svg|width=60}}
|Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm |
| 60px
|Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, 1st class |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Korean Presidential Unit Citation.png|width=60}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|width=60}}
|Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=60}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=60}} |
Later life
Shoemaker retired from the army in 1982 to the Fort Hood area, and remained active in community service. He served eight years as the elected Bell County Commissioner. He also backed a campaign that resulted in the establishment of Texas A&M University–Central Texas near Fort Hood. Some of his other civic activities include President and advisor to the President of the 1st Cavalry Division Association, President of the Heart of Texas Council of the Boy Scouts, and as President of the Fort Hood Chapter of the United Way.
Shoemaker was inducted in the United States Army Operational Testers' Hall of Fame in 2002, and in 2004, he was awarded the Distinguished Graduate Award by the Association of Graduates, the United States Military Academy alumni association. He was also inducted as a member of the Army Aviation Hall of Fame in 1983.[http://www.quad-a.org/Hall_of_Fame/personnel/shoemaker.htm Army Aviation Hall of Fame entry]
Shoemaker died on 21 June 2017, at a hospital in Harker Heights, Texas, at the age of 93.{{Cite news|title=Retired General Robert Shoemaker dies at 93|newspaper=KCEN|date=June 22, 2017|first=Stephen|last=Adams|url=http://www.kcentv.com/news/local/military/retired-general-robert-shoemaker-dies-at-93/451250968|accessdate=22 June 2017|archive-date=22 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622181324/http://www.kcentv.com/news/local/military/retired-general-robert-shoemaker-dies-at-93/451250968|url-status=dead}} He established the high school, named after him, in Killeen, Texas.
Notes
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References
- [http://www.otc.army.mil/Hall%20of%20Fame/shoemaker.htm U.S. Army Operational Testers' Hall of Fame entry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624160323/http://www.otc.army.mil/Hall%20of%20Fame/shoemaker.htm |date=2007-06-24 }}
- [http://www.aogusma.org/aog/awards/DGA/04cit/shoemaker.htm Association of Graduates bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928055938/http://www.aogusma.org/aog/awards/DGA/04cit/shoemaker.htm |date=2007-09-28 }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shoemaker, Robert M}}
Category:American people of Dutch descent
Category:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
Category:Military personnel from Michigan
Category:United States Army generals
Category:United States Military Academy alumni
Category:American Master Army Aviators
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
Category:Recipients of the Silver Star
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Order (Vietnam)
Category:People from Almont, Michigan
Category:People from Fort Cavazos
Category:County commissioners in Texas