Retired Maj. Gen. Edward Atkeson fought back tears as he reminisced war stories at a Posvar… Retired Maj. Gen. Edward Atkeson fought back tears as he reminisced war stories at a Posvar Hall room dedication ceremony last week.

Atkeson described a time when Gen. Roscoe Robinson’s helicopter landed directly in the enemy line of fire.

‘He survived against all the odds,’ said Atkeson of his close friend and classmate, to whom room 3800 was dedicated on Friday.

Atkeson added that Robinson’s accomplishments were more impressive considering the ‘invisible internal barrier between blacks and whites.’

John Keeler said he began looking for distinguished alumni to honor when he became dean of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs in 2006. He eventually came across Robinson.

‘As we got deeper and deeper, we realized he was a central part to Pitt’s history,’ said Keeler.

Robinson earned his master’s degree in public and international affairs from Pitt in 1964, after having served as a battalion commander in the Vietnam War for the 7th Calvary Regiment of the Army and as deputy chief of staff for logistics.

He was the first black man to become a four-star general in the United States Army.

Robinson also earned the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross and 11 Air Medals for service in the Army during the Vietnam War.

Robinson’s family members added one more award to his list of accomplishments Friday afternoon.

The Graduate School of Public and International Affairs dedicated room 3800 in Posvar Hall to Robinson, a Pitt alumnus who died in 1993 after fighting leukemia.

Robinson enjoyed being part of the University community, said his wife, Mildred.

‘We had a wonderful time here in Pittsburgh,’ she said. ‘Roscoe and [former Pitt Chancellor Wesley] Posvar kept in touch a lot.’

She also said Robinson and Posvar served on committees related to disciplinary issues.

Mildred said Robinson enrolled in the army so he could get the financial help he needed to pursue an education.

‘He thought, I can get four years of free education,’ she said, ‘and then he liked it, so he stayed.’

Before that, Robinson attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated in 1951. Soon after, he won the Bronze Star Medal for serving in the Korean War.

Harvey White, co-chair for GSPIA, described Robinson as an inspiration.

‘His commitment and duty is something we should instill into all of our students,’ said White.

Robinson then attended the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., from which he graduated in 1963, one year before he graduated from Pitt.

In 1975, Robinson was promoted to brigadier general and appointed to command the U.S. Army Garrison in Okinawa, Japan. Later commands included the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., and the U.S. Army Japan/IX Corps.

Robinson was promoted to four-star general in 1982 and served as the U.S. representative to NATO’s Military Command in Brussels from 1982 to 1985.

Though lauded throughout his military career, no one medal or award was more special to him than the others, said his widow. But according to a commemoration by Arlington National Cemetery, he did claim to be the best handball player in the Army.

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