Remembering Them Forever (RTF)!

Military Information:

• PH: Purple Heart
• Retired Military
• US Marine Corps
• Vietnam Veteran
• Cold War
• QR Code
• 2 War Veteran
• Col: Colonel
• Combat Action Ribbon
• 1-Alpha List
• National/American Defense Service Medal/Award
• Vietnam Service Medal
• Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
• Korean Service Medal
• Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star
• Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
• Defense Superior Service Metal
• Bronze Star with Combat V

Bio:

US MARINE CORPS BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

COLONEL ROBERT A. CARNES, USMC (Ret)

Colonel Carnes was born August 3, 1937, in El Paso, Texas. He attended The University of Texas at Austin where he received a B. A. degree in Psychology. Upon graduation in 1959, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps from the NROTC (Regular) Program and ordered to The Basic School at Quantico, Virginia.

After The Basic School, Colonel Carnes was assigned to the 2d Battalion, 5th Marines for duty and unit transplacement to the 3d Marin Division. The Battalion was redesignated the 2d Battalion, 9th Marines and participated in the landing of the initial Marine aviation elements in the Republic of Vietnam in 1962. While in the Battalion, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and served as a platoon commander, company executive officer, and company commander.

In May 1962, Colonel Carnes was transferred to the Marine Barracks, Concord, California, where he was promoted to Captain in 1964. In August of the same year, Colonel Canes was reassigned to the U.S. Army's Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, to attend the Infantry Career Course and Airborne Course.

Colonel Carnes departed for the Republic of Vietnam in August 1966 to serve with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion as Commanding Officer, Company D, and Battalion Operations Officer. In addition to performing duties as a patrol leader, he participated in 13 major operations. Colonel Carnes was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V", Purple Heart, and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star.

Returning from Vietnam and promoted to Major in 1967, Colonel Carnes was ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps and assigned to the Operations Branch, G-3 Division, as the Assistant Close Combat Officer. After three years, he was transferred to the Marine Corps Development and Education Command to attend Command and Staff College.

Colonel Carnes returned to the Orient in 1971 as the Officer-in-Charge of the U.S. Marine Detachment Kimpo and Senior Advisor to the 2d ROK Marine Brigade. He was also assigned to Joint Observation Team 1 to investigate cross DMZ incidents.

After returning to the United States in 1972 for Spanish language training, Colonel Carnes was reassigned to the Defense Attaché Office in Mexico City as the Assistant Naval Attaché and Assistant Naval Attaché for Air to Mexico and Central America. As an Attaché, he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation by the United States and the Order of Special Merit and Order of Military Merit by Mexico. During the assignment Colonel Carnes was frocked to a Lieutenant Colonel and subsequently promoted to the same grade. Colonel Carnes was the first Marine officer frocked since World War I.

Colonel Carnes returned to the United States and the 1st Marine Division for respective tours of duty as Assistant G-1, Commanding Officer 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, and Executive Officer 7th Marines.

In 1979, Colonel Carnes was transferred to Fort McNair to attend the Inter-American Defense College. From there, he was assigned as Chief, Politico-Military Division, Studies, Analysis, and Gaming Agency, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Colonel Carnes was awarded the Defense Superior Service Award.

Colonel Carnes was promoted to his present grade July 1, 1981.

Colonel Carnes retired July 1, 1983, to Austin, Texas.

Colonel Carnes and his wife, the former Roberta Robinson of Baltimore, Maryland, have three married children, Karen Weaver, Sharon Mundie, and Cynthia Ritchie.




DECEMBER 2018