Vietnam War Donn John Robertson (September 9, 1916 – March 4, 2000) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general.

Additionally, many of his classmates became general officers or had very distinguished careers later: Gregory Boyington, Hugh M. Elwood, Lowell E. English, Carl J. Fleps, Edward H. Hurst, Charles J. Quilter and Alvin S. Sanders.

He was subsequently assigned to the Marine detachment aboard the battleship USS West Virginia and spent most of his time there with patrol cruises in Pacific and Hawaii and also took part in Fleet Problem XXI during 1940.

Robertson was transferred to San Diego, California, where he was appointed company commander within 2nd Marine Division under Major General Clayton B. Vogel.

During the Battle of Iwo Jima in February 1945, Robertson led his battalion up to the heavily fortified Hill 362, but his unit was pinned down by intense hostile mortar and machine-gun fire.

Robertson then moved along the front line units, inspired his men to heroic effort in resuming the attack until they had advanced up the southern slopes and seized the crest of this vitally strategic hill.

His battalion took heavy casualties, but he refused withdrawal of his unit and repulsed several night attacks and prevented the Japanese to penetrate the regimental line.

This service lasted until November of that year, when he was transferred to the staff of 3rd Marine Brigade at Camp Pendleton under Brigadier General John T. Walker.

[5] Following his return to the United States in September 1955, Robertson was appointed officer in charge of the Plans Branch within Division of Operations at Headquarters Marine Corps.

This assignment lasted until June 1958, when he was transferred to Hawaii and appointed assistant chief of staff for operations at the headquarters of Fleet Marine Force Pacific under his old superior from Iwo Jima, now Lieutenant General Thomas A.

[5] When General Wornham retired early in 1961, Colonel Robertson did not have to wait long and also received orders for transfer, now to the National War College.

Robertson then served as Chief of Staff of Marine Corps Schools at Quantico and remained in this capacity until August 30, 1963, when he was promoted the rank of brigadier general.

Robertson left for South Vietnam and assumed command of 1st Marine Division with headquarters located at Chu Lai Base Area at the beginning of June 1967.

During the beginning of August, Robertson launched Operation Cochise with the objective of destroying People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 2nd Division Headquarters and logistics base in the vicinity of Quế Sơn Valley.

At the beginning of September 1967, Robertson planned the Operation Swift in response to the increasing PAVN and Vietcong activity in the Quế Sơn Valley during the upcoming South Vietnamese elections.

Still under his command, 1st Marine Division took part in the Operation Allen Brook at the beginning of May 1968 in order to drive out the PAVN/Vietcong from Go Noi Island, located approximately 25 km south of Da Nang.

His citation states in part:[4] "When his battalion was pinned down by intense hostile mortar, machine-gun and grenade fire during a sustained drive to seize heavily fortified Hill 362, on 28 February, Lieutenant Colonel Robertson voluntarily left his position in the forward observation post and, moving along the front line units, inspired his men to heroic effort in resuming the attack until they had advanced up the southern slopes and seized the crest of this vitally strategic hill.

Refusing to permit a complete withdrawal, he dashed fearlessly through heavy machine-gun and mortar fire to the imperiled position and ordered an immediate attack which repulsed the Japanese and regained fifty yards of lost terrain.