COL. LLOYD ROBERT SALISBURY 1917 - 2003

     Lloyd Robert Salisbury, who was my 2nd cousin, was the son of Jennie Ahern, mentioned in Chart R-8, posted March 14 in this blog.  The obituary appeared Feb. 17, 2003 in the Spokesman-Review of Spokane, Washington.  I have made a few corrections of spelling and grammar, shown in italics (The Review had "AHearn" instead of Ahern).   I have information on seven children of Jennie Ahern and John Salisbury.  Lloyd had a significant roll in the intigration of the military.


SALISBURY,  Lloyd Robert (Age 86) - passed away January 30, 2003.  He died while in a Boise care center in Boise, Idaho, following a final battle with cancer, one year after the death of his wife, Wilma Marie Salisbury.  A memorial service to honor Lloyd Salisbury will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, February 19th, at the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 6200 N. Garrett, Garden City, Idaho.
     Lloyd, or Bob as he was known, was born to John Salisbury and Jenny Ahern Salisbury of Spokane, Washington January 1, 1917.  He was the youngest of eight children.  Bob was an avid ice hockey player, tennis player and competitive barrel jumper.  His father was an attorney who argued Indian treaty rights before the Supreme Court and instilled in Bob strong values about respecting the environment, advocating for people of color and doing the right thing.  When he was 17, Bob left the Episcopal Church because they would not admit his black friend.  Later in his military career, he became a Unitarian, teaching his values of religious freedom and questioning spirituality to his family.
     Although he longed to be an attorney, the depression and his family finances compelled Bob to compete for a spot at West Point.  Bob graduated from West Point in 1941 and was immediately deployed to England where he awaited the great invasion.  Entering France on D Day +2, he served in the artillery of the 90th division under General George Patton, marching into Paris, surviving the Battle of the Bulge, liberating concentration camps and finally meeting the Russians at the Czechoslovakian border.
     He left Europe as a Lt. Colonel and was assigned to the Pentagon where he wrote a white paper advocating the integration of African Americans into all military jobs.  In 1948, Bob attended the War College in Leavenworth, Kansas, where he met and married his wife, Wilma Salisbury.  When the Korean War broke out, he served on General MacArthur's staff, helping to implement the Truman order to integrate combat units.
     Upon his return to the United States, Bob served on the Artillery Committee at the Infantry School at Fort Banning, Georgia, and advised the German scientist Werner van Braun on the deployment of the "Honest John" rocket for the U.S. Army.  The rocket officially debuted on live nationwide television.  Bob was promoted to colonel and transferred to the American Forces South headquarters in Naples, Italy, becoming the personnel director to NATO.
     After fifteen years in the military, Bob changed his military branch to that of Intelligence; he often remarked that he had seen enough killing and that gathering accurate intelligence was an effective way to prevent war.  Together Bob and his wife, Wilma, traversed the world with their family of three children, living in Japan, Italy, Germany and the Ivory Coast.  They danced, immersed themselves in the cultures of the world and served as wonderful diplomats for their country.
     During the next ten years, at the height of the cold war, Bob served as G-1 (personnel) at the Intelligence Center in Fort Holabird, Md., Commander of the 66th Intelligence Group in Germany, and deputy G-2 of Intelligence for the 7th Army.  He chose to end his career by serving as the Defense Attache to the Ivory Coast Embassy in Abidjan, also representing the countries of Dahomey, Niger, and Upper Volta.  Of all his battle and peace time commendations, Bob was most proud of the legion of Merit bestowed on him by the President of the Ivory Coast for his exemplary service to that country.
     He retired from the military in 1971 at the Presidio in San Francisco, California.  Bob never did truly retire.  He created and managed the parole and drug and alcohol court program for Leavenworth County Kansas for ten years.  In Oceanside, California he served on the police commission, and as President of the Lion's Club, he reached his goal of providing complete eye care for every needy child in the City.
     Bob is survived by his daughter, Jan Salisbury of Boise; sons Tom Salisbury of Holland and Bill Salisbury of California, five grandchildren and one great-grandson.  He is also survived by his sister, Ruth Salisbury of Arizona.
     Bob Salisbury was, above all, a citizen of the world.  He sought out the unique and diverse in people and things.  He also took a great interest in life's unfortunate victims and disadvantaged, by, for instance, advocating for the orphaned street urchins of the "Casa dello Scugnizzo" in Naples, Italy.  He approached life with purpose and humor, and he was always looking to make the world a better place.  For all who knew him, we will miss Bob's vitality and astute observations about life.
     In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 6200 N. Garrett, Garden City, or the Idaho Black History Museum, 503 Julia Davis drive, Boise, Idaho 83702.

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     Bob Salisbury's mother was born 2 Feb 1881 and died 11 June 1968.  This is a transcript of the notice that appeared in the Spokesman-Review:

SALISBURY, Jennie Sarah -- A resident of W1732 14th.  Resident of Spokane 77 years.  she was a member of St. John's Cathedral.  Survived by 3 daughters, Mrs. Hal G. Westmore, Florence Salisbury, both Spokane;  Mrs. Paul C. Day, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; 3 sons, Col. Lloyd Robert Salisbury, Washington, D.C.; Ross Salisbury and Harold Salisbury, both Spokane; 9 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.  Funeral services, Thurs., June 13, at 10 a.m. from Cathedral of St. John Evangelist, Rev. John P. Moulton, officiating.  Interment, Riverside Memorial Park.  Under the direction of the SMITH FUNERAL HOME, W1124 RIVERSIDE AVE.