More detail on this person: Retired Maj. Gen.
Victor A. Armstrong, U.S. Marine Corps, of
Morehead City, died Thursday, May 20, 2010, at
home.
His funeral service with military honors is at 2
p.m. Sunday at All Saints Anglican Church with the
Rev. John Grayson officiating. The committal
service with military honors is at 10 a.m. Tuesday
at Quantico National Cemetery.
Gen. Armstrong was born in Bozeman, Mont., and
attended high school at the Far Eastern Academy
in Shanghai, China, graduating in 1936. He
received his bachelor's degree in Science from
Walla Walla College in College Place, Wash., in
1942. In May 1942, he entered the aviation cadet
program and underwent flight training at the Naval
Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was
commissioned a second lieutenant on March 16,
1943, and designated a naval aviator April 3,
1943. During World War II, he was a fighter pilot
with Marine Fighter Squadron 312 (VMF-312),
Marine Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33), and
participated in aerial operations in the South
Pacific, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses
and his first Air Medal in the Ryukyu Islands
area. During the Korean conflict, Gen. Armstrong
served as executive officer, VMO-6, with the 1st
Marine Aircraft Wing. As such, he was in charge of
the helicopters of the squadron. This was the
first employment of helicopters in combat for the
Marine Corps and was in support of the 1st Brigade
in the Pusan Perimeter, the Inchon Landing and in
the Chosin Reservoir. There, he directed and
participated in the earliest combat helicopter
operations, gaining extensive knowledge about the
tactical employment of the helicopter. During the
Korean conflict, he earned the Silver Star Medal
with one gold star in lieu of a second award, a
third Distinguished Flying Cross and his second
through seventh air medals. Upon his return to the
United States in December 1950, he served with
Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) and the
Marine Corps Equipment Board at Marine Corps
Schools, Quantico, and was subsequently
promoted to major in June 1952. In 1953, he was
transferred to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro,
Calif., where he served as executive officer and
commanding officer of HMR-163, Marine Aircraft
Group (HR-16). This unit was deployed to Japan
during that year and joined the 1st Marine
Aircraft Wing for duty. In September 1954, he
reported to Headquarters Marine Corps for duty as
assistant head, Logistics and Materiel Branch,
Division of Aviation. In November 1957, he
returned to the Marine Corps Air Station,
Quantico, Va., and served as executive officer,
and later, commanding officer, Marine Helicopter
Squadron One (HMX-1) until April 1961. During this
period, he was senior presidential helicopter
pilot for both President Eisenhower and President
Kennedy. While stationed at Quantico, he was
promoted to lieutenant colonel in July 1959. In
April 1962, Gen. Armstrong completed the
Indonesian Language School in Monterey, Calif.,
and then reported as Naval Attache, Djakarta, for
a three-year tour. He was promoted to colonel in
July 1965. Upon his return to the United States,
he completed the course of instruction at the
Naval War College in Newport, R.I., in June 1966,
after which he reported to the 1st Marine Aircraft
Wing in Vietnam. He served as commanding officer,
MAG-36, and later as commanding officer, Marine
Wing Support Group 17. For his service in Vietnam,
he earned the Legion of Merit with Combat "V," his
fourth through seventh Distinguished Flying
Crosses and his eighth through 12th Air Medals.
From June 1967 until September 1969, Gen.
Armstrong was assigned as assistant head and
later head of Assignment and Classification
Branch, Personnel Department, Headquarters
Marine Corps. After his promotion to brigadier
general in September 1969, he was assigned duty
as Marine Corps Liaison Officer (OP-09M), Office
of the Chief of Naval Operations, and earned a
second award of the Legion of Merit. A third award
of the Legion of Merit was presented to him for
his service as Commanding General, 1st Marine
Brigade at Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe,
Hawaii, from October 1970 through August 1972. In
October 1972, Gen. Armstrong became the deputy
commanding general/chief of staff, Fleet Marine
Force Pacific, where he received his fourth award
of the Legion of Merit. In August 1973, he
returned to Headquarters Marine Corps and
assumed the responsibilities as the director of
information. He was advanced to the rank of major
general on March 28, 1974, and the following month
undertook the duties of Commanding General, 1st
Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
Upon his return to the United States in January
1975, he became Deputy Chief of Staff for
Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington,
D.C. He retired as Commanding General Marine
Corps Air Station Cherry Point in July 1, 1978.
He is survived by his wife, June J. Armstrong; two
daughters, Karen T. Millikan and husband B.J. of
Morehead City and Ann R. Armstrong of Atlantic
Beach; one sister, Beth Coffin of Portland, Ore.;
two granddaughters, Megan Ann Goold and Ashley
Marie Goold; and one grandson, Patrick Samuel
Armstrong Goold.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in
death by a sister, Marie Stuart.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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