Official Bio from HQMC

Major General Victor A. Armstrong retired from the Marine Corps on July 1, 1978.

General Armstrong was born in Bozeman, Montana, and attended high school at the Far Eastern Academy, Shanghai, China, graduating in 1936. He received his B.A. degree in Science from Walla Walla College, College Place, Washington, in 1942.

In May 1942, he entered the Aviation Cadet Program and underwent flight training at the Naval Air Station, 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.

Following World War II, he was a squadron pilot and filled a number of staff billets with VRF-2, Headquarters Squadron, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and with Air, Fleet Marine Force, Western Pacific.

In June 1948, he was assigned to Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, and Marine Corps Air Station, Quantico, where he completed the Junior Amphibious Warfare Course in May 1949.

During the Korean conflict, General 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-l) 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, California, 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, and served as Executive Officer, and later, Commanding Officer, Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-l) until April 1961. During this period, he was Senior Presidential Helicopter Pilot for both President's Eisenhower and Kennedy. While stationed at Quantico, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in July 1959.

In April 1962, General Armstrong completed the Indonesian Language School, Monterey, California, 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, Newport, Rhode Island in June 1966, after which he reported to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, 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, General Armstrong was assigned as Assistant Head and later Head, 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 (0P-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, General 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 U.S., in January 1975, he became Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, DC.

Good Marine

pm3777;26866 wrote: First info that the General has passed was "credmans" post. Should be information on this Pioneer in our Helicopter Field. Hope someone will be able to post that. I first remember the General when he was Capt Victor Armstrong at HMX-1 1950. I know that he went directly from there to Korea where he was OIC at VMO-6 with the old HO3S Helicopters. I presume that was when VMO-6 was first activated . Years later I met him and MgySgt Arthur Himmleburger at the HMX-1 Reunion at Quantico. Art was the first Presidential Crew Chief when it originated with President Isenhour. God Speed General !! Semper Fidelis PM

Good Marine and was Glad to have met Him at the Reunion with Hmx-1 My wife also met him ,and she couldn't believe it when he told her how old he was. He had some fun with Di about that and yet She was still asking me about the same later that day. Now How old??Why he can't be that age! Yes He could.........;)

Age

hma1369;26876 wrote: Major General Victor A. Armstrong retired from the Marine Corps on July 1, 1978.

General Armstrong was born in Bozeman, Montana, and attended high school at the Far Eastern Academy, Shanghai, China, graduating in 1936. He received his B.A. degree in Science from Walla Walla College, College Place, Washington, in 1942.

In May 1942, he entered the Aviation Cadet Program and underwent flight training at the Naval Air Station, 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.

Following World War II, he was a squadron pilot and filled a number of staff billets with VRF-2, Headquarters Squadron, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and with Air, Fleet Marine Force, Western Pacific.

In June 1948, he was assigned to Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, and Marine Corps Air Station, Quantico, where he completed the Junior Amphibious Warfare Course in May 1949.

During the Korean conflict, General 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-l) 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, California, 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, and served as Executive Officer, and later, Commanding Officer, Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-l) until April 1961. During this period, he was Senior Presidential Helicopter Pilot for both President's Eisenhower and Kennedy. While stationed at Quantico, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in July 1959.

In April 1962, General Armstrong completed the Indonesian Language School, Monterey, California, 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, Newport, Rhode Island in June 1966, after which he reported to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, 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, General Armstrong was assigned as Assistant Head and later Head, 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 (0P-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, General 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 U.S., in January 1975, he became Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, DC.

Good write up and great to be able to see all he was ,for he was a real deal to bad more people didn't get to know him for what he was. Just was neat that I had the time and place to be able to meet and get to talk to this Marine. Now anyone know for sure what the Generals Age Was? Sure did live a full life.:) Semper FI Sir God Bless and Speed your way.