October 11, 1928 Roscoe Robinson, Jr., the first African American four-star general in the United States Army, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Robinson attended St. Louis University for a year before transferring to the United States Military Academy at West Point where he earned his bachelor’s degree in military engineering in 1951. After graduating, he served as a platoon leader and rifle company commander during the Korean War and earned a Bronze Star. In 1964, Robinson earned his master’s degree in international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh. During the Vietnam War, Robinson served as a battalion commander and earned the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, 11 Air Medals, and 2 Silver Stars. After Vietnam, he served as the executive officer to the Chief of Staff at the National War College for three years and in 1975 became the commanding general of the U. S. Army Garrison. In 1976, he was promoted to major general and commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, the first African American to command that division. In 1982, Robinson was promoted to four-star general and assigned U. S. Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee, a post he held until his retirement in 1985. After retiring, he served on the boards of Northwest Airlines and the McDonnell-Douglas Corporation. He also helped develop the minority studies program at West Point. Robinson died July 22, 1993. The General Roscoe Robinson, Jr. Auditorium at West Point and Roscoe Robinson Health Clinic at Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg are named in his honor.