United States Marine Corps General. He served 41 years in the United States Marine Corps, rising from Private to four-star General, and was the Corps' 27th Commandant. Though raised on a plantation in Louisiana, his family was poor. He attended Louisiana State University because it had free tuition at the time, working as a janitor and waiter to pay for room and board. He left early to join the Marine Corps in World War II, going to boot camp in San Diego, California. He remained there as a drill instructor, applied for Officer Candidate School, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on May 19, 1943. He served in a Japanese held portion of China, training Chinese guerrillas, and earning the Bronze Star. During the Korean War, he won the Silver Star at the Battle of Inchon, fought at the Chosin Reservoir, and was awarded the Navy Cross for bravery at Koto-ri on December 9-10, 1951. After his death, it was revealed that he had also taken part in a top-secret mission in the islands north of Taiwan. In Vietnam, he commanded the Ninth Regiment, Third Marine Division, and was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross for his part in Operation Dewey Canyon. After Vietnam, General Barrow was Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. During his tenure there, he sought to upgrade the quality of recruits, and modernize training. He increased officer supervision, and ended the physical abuse of privates, while still maintaining a high standard. He was appointed Commander, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, in 1976, and Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1979, in which post he served until retirement in 1983. He improved the standard for enlisted Marines, discharging around 5,000 undesirables, and increasing the proportion of high school graduates from less than 50% in 1975 to 82% in 1982. He held honorary doctorates from Louisiana State, Tulane, and The Citadel. After retirement, he served on President Ronald Reagan's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, and several boards of visitors, including the National Defense University, the Naval War College, and George Mason University.
United States Marine Corps General. He served 41 years in the United States Marine Corps, rising from Private to four-star General, and was the Corps' 27th Commandant. Though raised on a plantation in Louisiana, his family was poor. He attended Louisiana State University because it had free tuition at the time, working as a janitor and waiter to pay for room and board. He left early to join the Marine Corps in World War II, going to boot camp in San Diego, California. He remained there as a drill instructor, applied for Officer Candidate School, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on May 19, 1943. He served in a Japanese held portion of China, training Chinese guerrillas, and earning the Bronze Star. During the Korean War, he won the Silver Star at the Battle of Inchon, fought at the Chosin Reservoir, and was awarded the Navy Cross for bravery at Koto-ri on December 9-10, 1951. After his death, it was revealed that he had also taken part in a top-secret mission in the islands north of Taiwan. In Vietnam, he commanded the Ninth Regiment, Third Marine Division, and was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross for his part in Operation Dewey Canyon. After Vietnam, General Barrow was Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. During his tenure there, he sought to upgrade the quality of recruits, and modernize training. He increased officer supervision, and ended the physical abuse of privates, while still maintaining a high standard. He was appointed Commander, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, in 1976, and Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1979, in which post he served until retirement in 1983. He improved the standard for enlisted Marines, discharging around 5,000 undesirables, and increasing the proportion of high school graduates from less than 50% in 1975 to 82% in 1982. He held honorary doctorates from Louisiana State, Tulane, and The Citadel. After retirement, he served on President Ronald Reagan's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, and several boards of visitors, including the National Defense University, the Naval War College, and George Mason University.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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