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Robert Charles Kingston
General Robert Kingston, official military photo, 1984
Kingston in November 1984
Born (1928-07-16)July 16, 1928
Died February 28, 2007(2007-02-28) (aged 78)
Place of birth Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
Place of death Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Service/branch U.S. Army
Years of service 1948–1985
Rank US-O10 insignia General
Commands held United States Central Command
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Korean War
Awards Combat Infantryman Badge (2)
Master Parachutist Badge
Distinguished Service Cross
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star (2)
Legion of Merit (4)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star (2)
Air Medal (36)
National Order of Vietnam, 4th & 5th Classes
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (6 Palms)
Special Forces Tab

Robert Charles Kingston (July 16, 1928 – February 28, 2007) was an United States Army general who served as the commander of U.S. Central Command.

Early life and education[]

Kingston was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on July 16, 1928, and graduated from Brookline High School in 1947. He entered the Army as an enlisted soldier in November 1948. The following year he attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Riley, Kansas and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry on December 20, 1949.

Career[]

As a second lieutenant, Kingston commanded Task Force Kingston in the early phase of the Korean War, driving his unit all the way to the Yalu River. Kingston commanded troops at each level from platoon to brigade. In 1970 he was assigned as the Deputy Secretary of the General Staff, Office of the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army. In June 1972 General Kingston returned to Vietnam where he was promoted to Brigadier General in December and served as Deputy Commanding General, Second Regional Assistance Command and as Deputy Senior Advisor, II Corps and Military Region 2.

In January 1973, Kingston assumed command of the Joint Casualty Resolution Center in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. Upon his return to the United States in 1974, he assumed duties as Assistant Division Commander of the First Infantry Division and was promoted to Major General in September 1975. He assumed command of the US Army John F. Kennedy Center for Military Assistance and the U.S. Army Institute for Military Assistance at Fort Bragg in 1975. Leaving Fort Bragg, General Kingston assumed command of the Army's 2nd Infantry Division in Tongduchon, Korea and served as Commanding General from June 1979 - June 1981. Following his promotion to Lieutenant General in 1981 he assumed command of the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force, MacDill Air Force Base Florida. On November 6, 1984, he was promoted to general, and a year later he retired from active duty.

Later life and death[]

Kingston died on February 28, 2007, at the age of 78, due to complications from a fall.[1]

Awards and decorations[]

width=175px
US Army Airborne master parachutist badge
Distinguished Service Cross ribbonDistinguished Service Medal ribbon
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Silver Star ribbon
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit ribbon
Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon
V
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star ribbon
Air Medal ribbon
Joint Service Commendation ribbon
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal ribbon
Army of Occupation ribbon
Bronze oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal ribbon
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
KSMRib
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Vietnam Service Ribbon
NCO Professional Development Ribbon Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon Cheon-Su Security Medal Ribbon File:Ribbon bar Officer National Order of Vietnam.gif File:BaoQuocHuanChuongR.gif
Vietnam gallantry cross-w-palm-3d Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal Ribbon United Nations Service Medal for Korea Ribbon Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Presidential Unit Citation ribbon
US Navy Presidential Unit Citation RibbonValorous Unit Award ribbonMeritorious Unit Commendation ribbon
Korean Presidential Unit CitationGallantry Cross Unit CitationCivil Action Unit Citation
SpecialForcesTabMetal

References[]

Military offices
Preceded by
none
Commander-in-Chief of United States Central Command
1983–1985
Succeeded by
George B. Crist


All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Robert Kingston and the edit history here.
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