Old Missoula

Cullum No. 3749 • Oct 24, 1966 • Died in Silver Spring, Maryland

Interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA

Charles DuVal Roberts was born 18 June 1873, at Cheyenne Indian Agency, South Dakota Territory. He was the son of Captain (later Brigadier General) Cyrus Swan Roberts, a Civil War veteran from Sharon, Connecticut, and Nannie DuVal, daughter of United States judge Thomas H. DuVal of Austin, Texas. His boyhood and youth were happy and adventurous, spent on various Army posts on the western frontier. In 1886, as a boy of 12, “Charlie” accompanied his father, who was aide to General Crook, on Crook’s expedition into Mexico which resulted in the surrender of the Apache Chief, Geronimo.

Roberts was appointed to the Military Academy from the Territory of Wyoming and graduated four years later, eighth in the Class of 1897. He was assigned as a Second Lieutenant to his father’s company in the 17th Infantry, and he accompanied the regiment to Cuba in 1898. He saw action in the Santiago campaign and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism at the battle of El Caney.

Roberts was promoted to temporary Captain and assigned to the 35th United States Volunteers, and proceeded with his regiment to the Philippines in 1899. There the regiment was engaged against the Insurrectos in Northern Luzon. He was captured leading a patrol which was ambushed and decimated (he was the sole survivor), but falling into the hands of a humane guerilla chief, he was returned unharmed after several months of captivity.

Returning to the States, Roberts was assigned as Judge Advocate of the Department of Texas with station at Fort Sam Houston from 1901 to 1900. He received his regular promotion to Captain in the 7th Infantry. He served with his regiment at Fort Missoula, Montana; Fort Wayne, Michigan; and Fort McKinley, P.I., until 1911.

He was assigned to the Line and Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and graduated number one in his class in the Line School in 1912 and the following year completed the Staff School. He then became an instructor in the Department of Military Art and Law. He rejoined his regiment, the 7th Infantry, and took part in the occupation of Vera Cruz in 1914.

In 1915, Roberts transferred to the 10th Infantry and served with it in Panama until the outbreak of World War I. The regiment returned to the States and Roberts, then a Major, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and organized the 46th Infantry. He was soon promoted to Colonel and assigned as Chief of Staff, 81st Division. He remained on this duty throughout World War I, participating in three campaigns in France, culminating with the Meuse-Argonne in November 1918. For outstanding service rendered during this period, Roberts was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Croix de Guerre with Palm, and the Order of Leopold of Belgium.

Upon his return from Europe, Roberts graduated from the War College in 1920, and after a short tour of duty with the War Department was assigned to command successively the 34th Infantry at Madison Barracks, and the 64th Infantry and, later, the 26th Infantry at Plattsburg Barracks. During 1923-24, he was Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Culver, Indiana, and then served from 1924-27 as Chief of Staff, First Corps Area in Boston. He served as Head of the Infantry Board at Fort Benning until February 1929, when he was appointed Brigadier General and assumed command of the 30th Artillery Brigade at Fort Eustis, Virginia. From there, he was sent to Panama, and commanded the 19th Brigade and Atlantic Sector with headquarters at Gatun, Canal Zone, until 1931.

Upon his return to the United States, General Roberts assumed command of the 2d Brigade, 1st Division, with his headquarters at Fort Ontario, New York, where he remained until 1936.

In June of 1936, General Roberts assumed his last command, the Washington Military District, from which duty he was placed on the retired list in 1937.

Charles DuVal Roberts was married to Eugenia Bradford (the daughter of retired Colonel James H. Bradford, a Civil War veteran) at Columbus Barracks, Ohio, in 1898. Eugenia Roberts joined her husband in the Philippine Islands in 1899 being one of the first American women in the Islands. She accompanied her husband throughout his many assignments. Four children were born of whom the youngest son, Charles, died of influenza in the epidemic of 1918.

Upon retirement, General and Mrs. Roberts settled on Maple Avenue, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Mrs. Roberts died in 1952 and was buried in Arlington.

He was a lifelong member of the Army-Navy Club, a member and director of the Retired Officers’ Association, and belonged to several organizations including the Order of the Cincinnati and the Ohio Commandery of the Loyal Legion.

Roberts suffered a stroke in October 1964 which left him almost blind and died two years later, 24 October 1966 at the age of 93. He was buried beside his wife in the National Cemetery in Arlington with full military honors. He is survived by two sons, Heyward B. and Thomas D., both United States Military Academy 1924, one daughter, Eugenia B. Roberts, and four grandchildren.

This cold, factual recital does not reflcct the feelings of sorrow and loss of the writer. It can truly be said in the words of the Alma Mater, “…well done. Be thou at peace.”