Roberts, James Milnor
From Lehigh Engineering Heritage Initiative
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| Birth: | 1918 |
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| Birthplace: | Pennsylvania |
| Degree: | B.S. metallurgy engineering |
| Graduation: | 1940 |
| Notable Achievement: | Major General, United States Army |
Major General James Milnor Roberts graduated from Lehigh University’s ROTC program in 1940 with a B.S. in metallurgy engineering. Almost immediately following his graduation Roberts began defending our country in WWII.
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[edit] Youth
Roberts was born and raised in Pennsylvania. He was only 11 years when the stock market crashed in 1929 and the world-wide Great Depression began. As a teenager he shoveled coal for 50 cents per ton. A few years later be became a licensed salesman of women’s custom-fit hosiery, walking door-to-door selling products to earn money for his college tuition.
[edit] Education
Upon earning enough money to fund his college education, Roberts enrolled at Lehigh University where he studied metallurgy engineering. He was active in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and was a brother of Sigma Chi fraternity. The highest honor accorded a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity is the "Significant Sig Medal" which was awarded to him in 1973. Upon his graduation he continued his education at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He holds certificates from the U.S. Army War College and the National Defense University.
[edit] World War II
Roberts is a veteran of World War II and served as a glider infantry officer until he was appointed as Aide de Camp to Major General Leonard Gerow, Commander of the V Corps of First U.S. Army. He landed on Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944 during the Invasion of Normandy. He participated in the next five campaigns in Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge. Throughout his extensive military career, Roberts received the Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal; French Croix de Guerre with Solver Star; Czechoslovakian Military Cross of 1939; and the Bronze Arrowhead for participation in the D-Day Normandy Invasion on Omaha Beach. In 1984 he was awarded the Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal; the Air Force Exceptional Service Medal; and the Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Medal.
[edit] Post World War II
After the close of World War II, Roberts continued his military service in the Reserve while also working in the Public Relations field. In January 1946 Roberts joined the Sykes Advertising Agency in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and became President of the agency in 1948.
In 1970 Roberts was appointed by President Nixon and confirmed by the Senate to serve as Deputy Chief of the Army Reserve, which required him to move to Washington, D.C. to assume this new position. In 1971 he was promoted to the rank of Major General, once again he was appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate to serve in the Pentagon as Chief of the U.S. Army Reserve, a position he held until 1975. In 1975 Roberts became the Executive Director of the Reserve Officers Association, a position he held until 1984.
[edit] Non-Military Leadership Positions
During his career Roberts has held leadership positions with The United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees) through which he was selected as One of 100 Outstanding Young Leaders of Pittsburgh and appeared on the cover of Time Magazine. He has served as an officer in the Young Republicans, raised funds for the Pittsburgh Symphony and Co-Founded an Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh where he served in the vestry for several years. Roberts is Co-Founder and has served as President of the National Historic Intelligence Museum, and was President of the Free Afghanistan Committee, Director of Coalition of Sound Money, and Director of the American Security Council. He has served as President of the American Coalition for Competitive Trade and other organizations advocating a strong defense for America. He was Director and Congressional Liaison for the Space Transportation Association. He has served as a Director and Advisor of the World War II Veterans Committee for six years, and has been the principal speaker during veteran's conferences regarding World War II Invasion of Normandy, Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. He has led discussions and conducted seminars before hundreds of school children, college students and conferences regarding his military service. Roberts has served as Moderator for several C-PAC conferences. He is Chairman of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Society, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a group whose mission is to preserve the legacy of General Eisenhower and one which distributes grants to worthy causes. He has served as President of the Capitol Hill Executive Service Club, the beneficiaries of which are First Responders of the Capitol Hill Police and Capitol Hill Firefighters.
[edit] Recent and Current Endeavors
Roberts has been the featured speaker on national defense issues before hundreds of audiences in the United States and abroad, and has appeared on television and radio programs, including ABC’s Nightline. He and his wife, Priscilla, host a weekly radio program titled "The Greatest Generation". It is broadcast over Radio America and heard around the country and internationally over Armed Forces Radio.
Roberts and his wife were Committee and Co-organizers of Military Appreciation Week in the District of Columbia, sponsored by the Mayor of Washington. The event was held on Freedom Plaza in 2002 and great emphasis was given to recruitment of young people into service in the Armed Forces. This led to the Roberts’ Co-Founding of the First Memorial Day Parade by Veterans to be held annually in the District of Columbia which was successfully accomplished in 2004 and continues today.
Roberts and his wife belong to numerous patriotic and lineal societies and such social organizations as the Washington Assembly, Black Tie, and the Sulgrave Dinner Dances. They hold memberships in numerous charitable and diplomatic related organizations such as The Meridian House, T.H.I.S., and Achievement Rewards for College Scientists. Roberts is the father of two sons and two daughters by his first wife who is deceased, and he has eight grandchildren. He and his wife reside in Arlington, Virginia.
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[edit] See Also
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