Fred S. Robillard

Fred Sevier Robillard (September 14, 1890 – January 31, 1971) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps who reached the rank of major general. He was awarded the Navy Cross, the United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat, as Naval aviator during World War I. Robillard later served as supply officer and retired as commanding general of Depot of Supplies San Francisco.

Early career and World War I

Fred S. Robillard was born on September 14, 1890, in Chicago, Illinois, to Wilfred and Mary Robillard. He attended high school there and subsequently enrolled the University of Chicago, where he earned a bachelor's degree. In his early years, Robillard was involved in Auto racing and later in the sport of flying.

He served assignments in College Park, Maryland; Bellefonte, Pennsylvania; Belmont Park, New York and Newark, New Jersey, before his wife Alice got sick and Robillard requested to be relieved from duty. He wrote letter to his superior, James Clark Edgerton, in January 1920, but he was unable to find anyone to tell him he was leaving, and left a letter and message with another employee, who promised that he would deliver the message. Robillard change his mind in October 1920 and wrote letter to Edgerton and apologized for the error, but with no response. He also wrote letter to Second Assistant Postmaster General Otto Praeger with request for return to duty, again with no response.

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Major General Fred S. Robillard: