Kingston, Robert, GEN

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert C. Kingston, Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.

Lieutenant Colonel Kingston distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions during the period 22 November 1966 to 24 November 1966 while commanding elements of the 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Division on a search and destroy mission.

When two of his companies made contact with the forward positions of a Viet Cong battalion, Colonel Kingston landed by helicopter and assumed control of ground operations. In the evening of 22 November 1966 when the lead company was pinned down by intense automatic weapons fire, Colonel Kingston, with complete disregard for his safety, charged a wounded Viet Cong and wrestled a weapon from him. While firing the captured weapon, he then led an assault on the hostile positions and forced the insurgents to flee.

Throughout the three day period, Colonel Kingston repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire, to encourage his troops and direct air strikes and artillery against the Viet Cong emplacements. His aggressive leadership and personal courage inspired his men to fight with renewed vigor and defeat the numerically superior hostile force. Colonel Kingston's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Robert Charles Kingston

Robert Kingston was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry from the Officer Candidate School at Fort Riley, Kansas in December 1949.  Less than a year later, between 21-28 November 1950, 2LT Kingston distinguished himself as the commander of 'Task Force Kingston,' an element of the 3-32 Infantry Battalion, which fought it's way to the Yalu River despite of conditions of extreme cold and fierce enemy resistance.   During this action, then-Lieutenant Kingston's task force was augmented by armor, artillery, and engineer formations all led by officers senior to him in rank and over whom he retained operational command.  His actions and leadership during this operation are noted among the most impressive achievements of the Korean War and set the pattern for a career of exceptionally distinguished service.  For the duration of the Korean War, he continued to serve in other positions of responsibility with the 3-32 Infantry Battalion, ending his first tour in Korea in 1954 as a Company Commander.

Between 1954 and 1961, General Kingston served in several Airborne and Ranger assignments including postings at Dahlonega, Georgia, with the 82d Airborne Division at Ft Bragg, and as an Airborne Exchange Officer to Great Britain.  From 1961 to 1969, he served in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility including tours with the Army Airmobility Test Unit, as an advisor in Vietnam, and as the Commander of the 3d Special Forces Group.  In late 1969, he returned to Vietnam to command the 3d Brigade and then the 1st Brigade of 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). 

Between 1972, when he was promoted to Brigadier, and 1984 when he retired as a General, he commanded the Joint Casualty Resolution Center, the Kennedy Center for Military Assistance, the 2d Infantry Division, the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force, and finally, the United States Central Command.  General Kingston is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the National War College and holds a Masters degree from George Washington University in International Relations.  His decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Silver Star (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Legion of Merit (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with V device (with Oak Leaf Cluster) and the Combat Infantryman Badge (2nd Award) and Master Parachutist Badge.