ROBERT CLAY CHILTON

Command Sergeant Major
U.S. Army

Command Sergeant Major Robert Clay Chilton

Robert C. Chilton was born and raised in El Reno Oklahoma. In 1942, at 18 years of age, he joined the US Army in Oklahoma City. Trained in Ft. Sill OK and Camp Wallace, TX, then to New York where he boarded the "Gripsholm", a Swedish Liner converted for troops.
Nov.8, 1942, Pvt. Robert C. Chilton landed in North Africa and fought the duration of the African Campaign with the 1st Armored Division.
Sept.9, 1943 he was in the Salerno, Italy invasion followed by the Anzio Italy beach head encounter, then on to southern France, 1944.
Crossing the Rhine River into Germany at Worms, battles were fought through Stutgart and Nuremberg and then on into Austria. When the war in Europe ended May 1945, he was in Salzburg, Austria, having been in WWII 2 years and 11 months. He returned home on the Queen Mary arriving in New York Oct.1945.
He graduated from Ft. Benning GA and became a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC. Here he gained the rank of 1st Sergeant.
From there, a family accompanied tour to Germany and two one-year tours to Korea followed.
In 1968, he was among the first to receive the then new rank of Command Sergeant Major. This same year, 1968, he went to Vietnam where he was with the 101st Airborne Division. His last battle before returning to the United States was "Hamburger Hill".
His last tour of duty was in Ft. Myer, VA where he was the Command Sergeant Major of the "Presidents Honor Guard" - 3rd Infantry Old Guard.
He retired on June 30, 1972 with 30 years service having served in the Infantry, Armor, Airborne and Intelligence Units.
Command Sergeant Major Robert C. Chilton, Retired, now lives in San Antonio, TX near Ft. Sam Houston and remains active in military affairs. He is 1999 President of the Alamo Chapter 82nd Airborne Association.


DECORATIONS AWARDED TO COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR ROBERT C. CHILTON

  • Combat Infantry Badge
  • Master Parachute Badge (more than 100 Jumps)
  • Legion of Merit - One Cluster
  • Bronze Star - "V" Device, 3 Clusters
  • Cross of Gallantry
  • Army Commendation - 7 Clusters
  • Air Medal- "V" Device, 9 Clusters
  • Valorous Medal - 1 Cluster
  • Armed Forces Expedition - 2 Clusters, Cuba and Korea
  • World War II Campaign Medal - Arrowhead, 7 Bronze Stars
  • World War II Victory Medal
  • Germany Occupation Medal
  • French Liberation Medal
  • Good Conduct Medal - 6 Knots
  • President Unit Citation Medal - 1 Cluster
  • Meritorious Service Medal - 1 Cluster
  • Vietnam Campaign Medal - 4 Stars
  • Vietnam Service Medal
  • South Vietnamese Parachute Wings - High Grade
  • Army Unit Valorous Award
  • Army Unit Meritorious Citation
  • Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation

    Explanation of Decorations:
    "V" device: indicates valor-bravery
    Clusters: indicates number of times awarded
    Stars: indicates number of campaigns, i.e., 1 silver star - 5 bronze stars
    Knots on Good Conduct Ribbon: 6 knots maximum
    ArrowHead: indicates invasions participated in.

    You may Email Sgt. Chilton's daughter Janet by clicking on the envelope!


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