Lt. Col. Michael A. Robinson, United States Marines, 42, of 2410 East North Ave., Anderson SC, died Friday, June 1 at Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Lt. Col. Robinson was born on October 20, 1964 in Sylacauga AL.During his tour on this Earth he found the time and motivation to obtain the highest level of achievement in the Boy Scouts of America with the award of Eagle Scout and to earn an ROTC scholarship to the University of Auburn, where he obtained a BS degree in Industrial Engineering.
After graduation from Auburn, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a Forward Observer and Platoon Commander for the 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine division.While stationed with the 10th Marines, he volunteered for duty as a Forward Observer with "Charlie" Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines for contingency operations in the Republic of Panama.After finishing this tour, he volunteered again to return with the 2nd Light Armored Infantry Battalion serving in the operations leading up to the invasion of Panama.During this time he was promoted to First Lieutenant and finished his tour with the Fleet Marine Force at Camp LeJeune and reported for duty in Dallas Texas where he was the Inspector Instructor for the Marine Reserve Artillery Unit.While on I.I. duty he was promoted to Captain and served as the "Toys for Tots" coordinator.
In his next post, Okinawa Japan, Capt. Robinson served as the S-3A Operations and Training officer for the 3rd Marine division and as Battery Commander, Headquarters Battery, 3/12, 3rd Marine division.Following his tour in Okinawa, Capt. Robinson returned to the United States to serve as an Artillery Instructor at Fort Sill Oklahoma.
Following his tour at Fort Sill, he entered the civilian ranks, remaining in the Marine Reserves.While serving in the Marine reserves with 4/14 in Bessemer Alabama, Capt. Robinson was promoted to Major and served as the S-3 Operations and Training Officer.He volunteered to serve as a Joint Iraqi Military advisor for the Iraqi Army, where he was responsible for training the Iraqi National Army in the defense of their country.
After a successful tour of duty, he returned to the United States, where he was promoted to the rank of Lt. Col.Lt. Col. Robinson's final post was at Camp Eggers, Kabul Afghanistan, where he was to serve as a Liaison Officer with the U.S. Embassy.Lt. Col. Robinson's Military awards and associations include: Combat Action Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, Expeditionary Medal – Marine Corps, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and Navy Unit Commendation.Lt. Col. Robinson was inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara, patron saint of Marine Artillery, for his contributions to the field artillery.
Survivors include his wife of 16 years: Kristi Jolly Robinson of the home and his parents: Tom D. Robinson and Fannie Kelly Robinson of Weogufka AL.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Thursday night at the Strickland Funeral Home ~ Hartwell Chapel.The body will then be transported to Radney ~ Smith Funeral Home, Sylacauga AL, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday night.
Funeral services will be Saturday, June 9, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of the Radney ~ Smith Funeral Home, Sylacauga AL, with Rev. David Lane officiating.Graveside services with full military honors will be held at New Site Baptist Church, Rockford AL.Cremation will follow the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Greenville First Church of the Nazarene, 1201 Haywood Rd., Greenville SC, 29615 or to New Site Baptist Church, c/o Fannie Robinson, Star Route, Box 23 C, Weogufka, AL35183.
Lt. Col. Michael A. "Mike" Robinson had a zest for life, loved his God, wife, family, Corps and Country and was cherished by his family, friends, and fellow Marines.He will be missed tremendously!
Semper Fi Mike