Robert F. Foley
Encyclopedia
Robert Franklin Foley is a retired United States Army
Lieutenant General
who served in the Vietnam War
. Born in Newton, Massachusetts
, he received the Medal of Honor
for leading his unit, Company A, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, in an assault on a strong enemy position on November 5, 1966. He was awarded the Medal of Honor along with Sgt John F. Baker, Jr.
, who earned his own medal in the same battle. Foley retired from the Army as a Lieutenant General.
at West Point and was commissioned an Infantry
officer. He has held numerous command and staff positions throughout 37 years of active service. He has a Master of Business Administration
from Fairleigh Dickinson University
.
Foley's command positions include company commander with the 25th Inf. Div. in Vietnam and battalion and brigade command with the 3rd Inf. Div. in Germany. He served as Chief of Staff for the 7th Inf. Div (Light), Fort Ord, CA; Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; Assistant Division Commander, 2nd Inf. Div., Korea; Commandant of Cadets, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY; Deputy Commanding General, Second US Army, Ft. Gillem, GA; Commanding General, US Army Military District of Washington; and Commanding General, Fifth US Army, Ft. Sam Houston, TX.
Foley's awards for peacetime and combat include the Medal of Honor, two Distinguished Service Medal
s, the Defense Superior Service Medal
, six Legions of Merit, five Meritorious Service Medals
, the Bronze Star Medal
, the Purple Heart
and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. He was also awarded the Parachutist Badge
and the Ranger Tab
.
After his retirement, he served as President of Marion Military Institute
(MMI) in Marion
, Alabama
. until his resignation at the end of Academic Year 2003-2004. During his tenure at MMI, the school saw tremendous growth and recognition in Alabama, and across the United States. On October 1, 2005 General Foley became the eighth Director of Army Emergency Relief.
Captain Foley's Medal of Honor citation reads:
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
who served in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Born in Newton, Massachusetts
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
, he received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for leading his unit, Company A, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, in an assault on a strong enemy position on November 5, 1966. He was awarded the Medal of Honor along with Sgt John F. Baker, Jr.
John F. Baker, Jr.
John Franklin Baker, Jr. is a retired United States Army Sergeant who served in the Vietnam War and received the Medal of Honor.-Personal life:...
, who earned his own medal in the same battle. Foley retired from the Army as a Lieutenant General.
Biography
Foley is a 1963 graduate of the United States Military AcademyUnited States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point and was commissioned an Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
officer. He has held numerous command and staff positions throughout 37 years of active service. He has a Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university founded as a junior college in 1942. It now has several campuses located in New Jersey, Canada, and the United Kingdom.-Description:...
.
Foley's command positions include company commander with the 25th Inf. Div. in Vietnam and battalion and brigade command with the 3rd Inf. Div. in Germany. He served as Chief of Staff for the 7th Inf. Div (Light), Fort Ord, CA; Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; Assistant Division Commander, 2nd Inf. Div., Korea; Commandant of Cadets, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY; Deputy Commanding General, Second US Army, Ft. Gillem, GA; Commanding General, US Army Military District of Washington; and Commanding General, Fifth US Army, Ft. Sam Houston, TX.
Foley's awards for peacetime and combat include the Medal of Honor, two Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
s, the Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
The Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
, six Legions of Merit, five Meritorious Service Medals
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
, the Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
, the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. He was also awarded the Parachutist Badge
Parachutist Badge
The Parachutist Badge or Parachutist Brevet is a military badge awarded by the Armed Forces of most countries in the world to soldiers who receive the proper parachute training and accomplish the required number of jumps. It is difficult to assess which country was the first to introduce such award...
and the Ranger Tab
Ranger Tab
The Ranger Tab is a service school military decoration of the United States Army signifying completion of the 61-day long Ranger School course in small-unit infantry combat tactics in woodland, mountain, and swamp operations. In December 2009 a British NCO earned the Ranger tab...
.
After his retirement, he served as President of Marion Military Institute
Marion Military Institute
Marion Military Institute, often abbreviated with the initialism MMI, is the official state military college of Alabama. Founded in Marion in 1842, it continues at its original location.-History:...
(MMI) in Marion
Marion, Alabama
Marion is the county seat of Perry County, Alabama. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 3,511. First called Muckle Ridge, the city was renamed after a hero of the American Revolution, Francis Marion.-Geography:...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. until his resignation at the end of Academic Year 2003-2004. During his tenure at MMI, the school saw tremendous growth and recognition in Alabama, and across the United States. On October 1, 2005 General Foley became the eighth Director of Army Emergency Relief.
Medal of Honor citation
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War