{{Short description|United States Army general}} {{Infobox military person |name= Robert Arter |image= Robert Arter.jpg |image_size= |alt= |caption= Lieutenant General Robert Arter |nickname= |birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1929|9|7}} |birth_place= Massillon, Ohio, U.S. |death_date= |death_place= |burial_place= |allegiance= United States |branch= United States Army |service_years= 1950–1986 |rank= Lieutenant General |service_number= |unit= |commands= Sixth United States Army<br/>United States Army Military District of Washington<br/>1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division<br/>1st Battalion, 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment |battles= Korean War<br/>Vietnam War |awards= Army Distinguished Service Medal<br/>Silver Star<br/>Legion of Merit (2)<br/>Distinguished Flying Cross<br/>Bronze Star Medal<br/>Purple Heart |relations= |other_work= Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army }}
'''Robert Arter''' (born September 7, 1929) is a retired United States Army lieutenant general and former commanding general of the Sixth United States Army.
Born and raised in Massillon, Ohio,<ref name="Army bio"/> Arter graduated from Washington High School in 1946.<ref>{{cite book |title=The 1946 Massillonian |page=15 |publisher=Washington High School |location=Massillon, Ohio}}</ref> He was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry from Ohio University in 1950 after completing a B.S. degree in personnel management. Arter later earned an M.S. degree in public administration from Shippensburg State College.<ref name="Army bio">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zqRPfg2-KCEC&pg=PA27 |title=Army Executive Biographies |chapter=Lieutenant General Robert Arter |page=27 |date=1985 |publisher=Headquarters, Department of the Army |access-date=June 3, 2021}}</ref>
In 1952, Arter served with the 35th Regimental Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, in Korea. From 1956 to 1960, after attending the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, he was assigned as an operations officer for the Infantry School. Upon completion of the United States Air Force Air Command and Staff College in 1962, he held numerous command and staff positions before being sent to the Republic of Vietnam. In 1968, he assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). He returned to Vietnam in 1971 to command the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division.
Arter was promoted to brigadier general in 1973 and became the Commanding General of the Third ROTC Region. From 1975 to 1979, he was the Deputy Commanding General, United States Training Center and Fort Ord; Assistant Division Commander, 7th Infantry Division; and Deputy Commandant, United States Army Command and General Staff College. In 1979, Arter was promoted to major general and named Commanding General, United States Army Military District of Washington, followed by Commanding General, United States Army Military Personnel Center. Arter's last assignment was as Commanding General, Sixth United States Army.
==Awards and decorations== {| |160px |Combat Infantryman Badge with star (2 awards) |- |100px |Basic Parachutist Badge |} {| |80px |Army Distinguished Service Medal |- |80px |Silver Star |- |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster |- |80px |Distinguished Flying Cross |- |80px |Bronze Star Medal |- |80px |Purple Heart |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|other_device= |ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -61px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">17px</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -46px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">17px</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -35px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">17px</span> |Air Medal with "V" Device and bronze award numerals 14 |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Service Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Joint Service Commendation Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster |- |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star |- |{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean Service Medal - Ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Korean Service Medal with three service stars |- |{{ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|other_device=bss|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Vietnam Service Medal with five service stars |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Service Ribbon.svg|width=80}} |Army Service Ribbon |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg|width=80}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -50px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">20px</span> |Vietnam Gallantry Cross with bronze star |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg|width=80}} |Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal (1st Class) |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Vietnam Staff Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg|width=80}} |Vietnam Staff Service Medal (1st Class) |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=80}} |United Nations Korea Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=80}} |Vietnam Campaign Medal |}
Gen Arter was inducted in the inaugural class of the Phi Kappa Tau Hall of Fame and is a member of the Beta chapter of Phi Kappa Tau's Hall of Fame at Ohio University.
==Retirement== In 1991, Arter briefly held the position of Superintendent of Wentworth Military Academy. He served as President and CEO of the Armed Forces Bank in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for a number of years and remains as a member of the board. In February 2006, he was named as a civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army for Kansas.<ref>[http://www.lansingcurrent.com/news/2006/feb/23/lansing_resident_tapped_aide_army_secretary/ "Lansing resident tapped as aide to Army secretary"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060521172702/http://www.lansingcurrent.com/news/2006/feb/23/lansing_resident_tapped_aide_army_secretary/ |date=2006-05-21 }}, ''The Lansing Current'', February 23, 2006. (URL accessed on May 5, 2006)</ref> In addition, Arter serves on the Governor’s Military Council for the state of Kansas.<ref>[http://www.ksgovernor.org/news/docs/news_rel020706b.html "Governor’s Military Council will strengthen Kansas military installations"], News Release, Office of the Governor of Kansas. (URL accessed May 5, 2006).</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{commons category|Robert Arter}}
* [http://www.pktbeta.com/alumni/hall_members/arter.html Robert Arter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060604044833/http://www.pktbeta.com/alumni/hall_members/arter.html |date=2006-06-04 }}, Phi Kappa Tau.
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arter, Robert}}
Category:1929 births Category:Living people Category:People from Massillon, Ohio Category:Ohio University alumni Category:United States Army personnel of the Korean War Category:Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania alumni Category:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War Category:Recipients of the Air Medal Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Category:Recipients of the Silver Star Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit Category:United States Army generals Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Category:Presidents of Wentworth Military Academy and College Category:People from Leavenworth County, Kansas