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ROBERT HEFNER MARCRUM was born in Jane Lew, West Virginia, on 9 September 1930. His parents were both teachers in the school he later attended. His family consisted of two sisters and one brother. They grew up in a very small town of humble beginnings, West Milford, West Virginia.
Bob was at the top of his class in high school. From there he went on to attend West Virginia University for two years before accepting a second opportunity for appointment to West Point. At the Academy he participated in sports, namely basketball and baseball, glee club, and band. His direction in life was difficult and different, however; from this point on, his life became dedicated to West Point and his 30 years in the Army.
Upon graduation, choosing Field Artillery as his branch, he served at Ft. Bliss, Texas, for various Army schools, three different times, to includes two years as an aide-de-camp. He went to Jump School, Ft. Benning, Georgia, and then to an assignment at Ft. Meade, Maryland. After advanced school, partly at Ft. Bliss and then at Ft. Sill, he went to Darmstadt, Germany, where he commanded a headquarters company. Prior to this he had another overseas assignment to Korea, serving with friends and classmates up on the DMZ. From Germany he was assigned to the Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Upon graduation, he did graduate work at Purdue University in preparation for his assignment to West Point. His assignment there was teaching and one year research in military psychology and leadership. Bob found this tour very rewarding, as a number of classmates were there at the time and many friendships were established. Here he was Officer Representative of the 150-lb. football team and coached plebe football. At this time we had four children, and it was a very special place for children to grow up.
COL Raymond M. Macedonia recalls,
GEN Bernard Rogers, the Commandant of Cadets in 1969, assigned Bob the task of heading a special study group to review the Fourth Class system. Bob asked me to be a member of his team. It was while working with Bob on this task that I began to appreciate how exceptionally outstanding Bob was as a soldier, and American, and a man. The depth of his love of the United States Military Academy, his faith in the Academy, his deep belief in the role of the Academy in being the bedrock for setting the professional standards of the Army, and the special responsibility of the Academy in a free society, was an inspiration to all of us on his team. I had the honor of serving with Bob on three different assignments. In addition to serving together in the Military Psychology and Leadership Department at the Academy, we served together in the 2d Infantry Division in Korea and on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon. His selflessness, honor, loyalty to his men, love of family, and dedication to duty and country were something very special. Just having the opportunity to associate with Bob made me a better officer and a better person — thank you, Bob.
After leaving West Point, Bob had a second tour in Korea. While he was there, our fifth child was born at West Point. Upon returning home, we moved to Virginia for his tour at the Pentagon, the National Military Command Center. He kept busy as the briefer to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
A tour next was in Vietnam and when he returned, we seemed to stabilize at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey, where he took on many assignments, namely, being passed on as chief of staff from one commanding general to another. He also had an assignment his last year there as HISA Commander. His last assignment in the Army was at Ft. Dix, New Jersey. After 30 devoted years to the Army, he retired on a Friday and started a new job (Executive Director, American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers) in New York City on the next Monday. He dedicated himself to his new position, and we took advantage of traveling together on a number of business trips. He worked there eight years until his cancer was discovered and he was forced to retire. Bob was a gallant soldier in his fight of this disease of almost two years. He needed to be at peace.
Bob was well-liked and a most fair person, as an individual, husband, and father. He is greatly missed by me, and my Linda, Laurie, Lisa, Leslie, and Bobby, our five children. I carry on his love of the Academy. |
