Scope and Contents

290 slides document Robert E. (Gene) Marshall's service as an instructor navigator and targeting officer in the United States Air Force for OPERATION RANCH HAND, 1967-1968. All slides date from the war era with some in good condition and others in poor condition with loose mounts.

Biographical / Historical

Robert E. (Gene) Marshall was born in 1938 in Dallas, Texas. In 1960 he volunteered for the United States Air Force through a ROTC commission, beginning a total of thirty years of service in the military, just over twelve of which were active duty. From 1967 through 1968, Marshall served with the 12th Air Commando Squadron stationed at Bien Hoa, with extensive TDY at Da Nang (Danang). Ranked as Captain during this time, Marshall held multiple positions including navigator, instructor navigator, flight examiner navigator, targeting officer, and summary courts officer. His main duties while in Vietnam centered around defoliation operations such as OPERATION RANCH HAND.

Marshall resigned his regular commission in 1973 and spent the next 17 years in the Air Force Reserves. In 1990 he retired as a Colonel (O6) having received the Vietnamese Navigator Wings, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with V device, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and two Air Medals. Marshall is a member of the Ranch Hand Vietnam Association.