Colonel Robert Plant Obituary – The Reno Journal-Gazette and Mason Valley News

Colonel Robert Plant

Reno – Colonel Robert Plant, USMC (Ret) passed away on March 23, 2022, in Reno Nevada at age 89. Colonel “Rocky” Plant was a Marine Aviator, and former program manager at Aerojet Ordinance. He was born in San Diego on August 30, 1932, to the late Edward and Frances Plant and joined the United States Naval Reserve in 1949 before graduating from Point Loma High School in 1950. In 1953, he was selected for active duty initially serving on submarines while pursuing a boxing career. In 1954, he was part of the Navy’s Boxing team winning tournaments including the Alabama State Golden Gloves and the All-Navy Golden Gloves Champion. During his service in the Navy, he was accepted into the Naval Cadet Program where he graduated as a Naval Aviator. In June 1955 he received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He was on the fast track for a career in Marine Corps aviation and in 1957, was selected into the Fleet Air Gunnery Unit (FAGU) which was the Top Gun school at the time. During his career he flew jet fighters and attack aircraft and often flew with the Blue Angels while a Flight Instructor in Pensacola. In 1965, he graduated from San Diego State College.

Colonel Plant completed three combat tours in Vietnam and flew 197 combat missions. During his career he served several staff tours in the United States, Europe, and Asia. In the 70’s he served as the Commanding Officer of Headquarters & Maintenance Squadron-32, Marine fighter attack squadron VMFA-251, and VMFA-333. He also commanded the first Marine jet fighter squadron to deploy aboard an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean where he received the “Centurion” award patch for completing 100 carrier landings on the USS America for a career total of 201 “traps”.

He was the Defense Plans Officer for NATO’s Commander of Strike and Support Forces (6th Fleet) in Southern Europe and later the Commanding Officer of Camp Elmore in Norfolk, VA. Prior to his retirement in 1980 he was Director of Training at Cherry Point, NC.

His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal (13 awards) with one gold star, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 bronze stars, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal with silver star, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal as well as other campaign and service medals. Upon retirement from the Marine Corps, he pursued his Masters, in Business Administration at the University of Nevada Reno and graduated in May 1983.

Colonel Plant is survived by his wife of 65 years, the former Betty Jean Petras. He was a devoted father of Christy McAnally of Virginia Beach, VA; Dana Plant of Solana Beach, CA, and Robert Plant (Loni) of Reno, NV. He is remembered and loved by his five granddaughters Brittany Hopkins (David) of Lebanon, TN; Kelly Brown (Heather) of New Kent, VA; Kaitlyn Lambert (Jonathan)of Henrico, VA; Megan McAnally (Justin) of Virginia Beach, VA: Leah McManus of San Diego, CA and two great-grandchildren, Lola Matiko and Maverick Hopkins of Lebanon, TN. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in his memory to Honor Flight Nevada, Post Box 21123 Reno, NV 89515 or www.HonorFlightNV.org