Robert W. Black

Soldier, historian, author, father, husband. Col. Robert W. Black passed away on July 23, 2025. He was born on June 15, 1929 in Carlisle, the son of Frank L. Black Sr. and Emma E. (Jones) Black. In 1932 his father, who was Chief Engineer at C.H. Masland Rug Mill in Carlisle, moved the family to a large farm on Route 34 south near the town of Goodyear. It was here that he developed a love of the forest, fields and streams and became a hunter.

Black attended Chestnut Ridge, a one-room, one-teacher country school in Dickinson Township for his first eight grades. In 9th grade, he attended Carlisle High School where he played football, threw the javelin, was a cheerleader, and participated in plays and the choir. He graduated in 1949 and was elected Vice President of his senior class and Male Student with the Most School Spirit and Wittiest.

He enlisted in the Regular Army in 1949, completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Dix, NJ, and graduated Outstanding Student at Leadership course. He volunteered for Airborne Training and became Parachute and Glider qualified at Fort Benning, GA. When the Korean War broke out in June of 1950, Black was serving in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. North Carolina. He was one of 900 paratroopers selected from 5,000 volunteers to become America’s first Airborne Rangers. After completing Ranger Training at Fort Benning and then Camp Carson, CO, Black and his unit - the 8th Airborne Ranger Company - were committed to battle in Korea. Much of the unit action was behind Chinese lines. He was promoted to Sergeant and decorated for Valor.

After the Korean War and service in Japan, Black was commissioned a 2nd LT in 1954. He served at various stateside posts and in Germany during the Cold War being promoted to 1st LT, Captain and Major. While stationed at Worms and Mannheim, Germany, he was part of a force designated to go to the defense of Berlin. He flew the infamous Berlin Wall by helicopter at rooftop level. While in service going to classes nights and weekends, he earned both a Bachelor’s and Master of Arts Degrees.

In November of 1967, Black reported to Vietnam and was assigned as District Senior Advisor Rach Kien District, Long An Province. He participated in 25 combat assaults by helicopter, numerous overland raids and ambushes and underwent 47 mortar and rocket attacks on his headquarters. He was promoted Lt. Colonel. Afterwards, he taught ROTC at the University of Miami and served in Hawaii. He retired in 1977 and was promoted to Colonel.

During his military career, Black fought in the largest enemy offensives of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. His military awards included two awards of the Combat Infantry Badge, the Silver Star, Two Bronze Stars for Valor, The Air Medal, The Legion of Merit and 18 other awards and decorations. He was mentioned in dispatches by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

After leaving the service, Black founded the Korean War Ranger Association and became a freelance travel writer and historian. For 15 years he roamed the world, from Antarctica to South Africa and Paris to Cairo and Rio, writing travel stories for newspapers including The Harrisburg Patriot-News and The Carlisle Sentinel as well as radio travel shows. His writings and words regularly reached over a million people.

His youthful experience as a Ranger made him research and write nine nationally published books on the history of the American Ranger from the 1600s. As an historian, he wrote nine published books covering American military history from the Colonial through Vietnam wars. In 1995, he was inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame. In 2011, the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center presented him with the “Living Legend” award, https://www.armyheritage.org/programs/recognition-awards/.

He was an avid tennis player, ballroom dancer and model railroader. He was a Mason and a life member of the Association of Korean War Airborne Rangers, the 82nd Airborne Division Association, the VFW and the DAV. He was known as the Dean of Ranger History and influenced many young men who joined that famous group of American fighting men. He also had a wonderful sense of humor. He believed the most significant events in his life where that he loved a woman, fathered children and planted a tree.

He is survived by his beloved wife, friend and supporter Carolyn, the former Mary Carolyn Kirchner of Baltimore, Maryland, two biological daughters, Leslie Wyn Black of Harrisburg and April Black Croft of Tarrytown, NY; Son-In Law Daniel Scott Croft and Grandson Aiden Robert Croft. The loving family he acquired through marriage to Carolyn includes sons and daughters Mark and Karen Stansbury of Carlisle, Larry and Lauren Smerling of Mechanicsburg; Granddaughter Chelsea (Jordan) Learn and Grandsons, Phillip (Jenna) Smerling, and Brad (Kendra) and Matt Stansbury; and six great-grandchildren.

Graveside funeral services and burial will be held at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, with full Army Honors, on Friday, August 1st at 11:30 a.m. There will be no viewing or visitation. Hoffman Funeral Home, Carlisle, is handling the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his honor to Paxton Ministries (https://paxtonmin.org ) and/or the Army Heritage Center Foundation (https://www.armyheritage.org/).