Storke Funeral Home Obituaries

Major General Robert “Bob” H. Scales, Jr. (U.S. Army Ret.), passed away on Friday, January 12, 2024 at the age of 79. Major General Scales was born in Gainesville, Florida in 1944 to Colonel Robert H. Scales, Sr. (U.S. Army Ret.) and Clyde Elizabeth Scales. He was born into a distinguished army family, and served proudly for 34 years. His time in the Army included serving valiantly in combat in Vietnam and inspiring both of his daughters to serve. From an early age, Major General Scales knew he wanted to be a soldier. He took the first steps to realizing his dream by attending Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Virginia. He then attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York and graduated in 1966 with a commission in the Field Artillery. While attending West Point, he met his loving wife, Diana (Weiss) and they were married at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey in 1966. Major General Scales commanded two units with the 101^st Airborne in Vietnam where he earned a Silver Star in 1969 during battles around Dong Ap Bia also known as Hamburger Hill. After Vietnam, Major General Scales earned his PhD in history from Duke University in 1976, which began a lifelong devotion to writing and speaking about military history and its application to modern warfare. Major General Scales’ continued commitment to leadership and learning included receiving degrees from the Armed Forces Staff college and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Among his command positions, he served as the Battalion Commander of the 2nd Battalion 17^th Artillery “Guns of the DMZ” in South Korea, the Brigade Commander of the Field Artillery Training Center at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the Assistant Division Commander for the 2^nd Infantry Division in South Korea, and the Commandant of the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. His final assignment at the War College was the culmination of a distinguished career devoted to honorable service and to training future generations of soldiers for the nation’s next challenges. His U.S. military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, ranger tab, and the senior parachutist badge.

After retiring, Major General Scales was appointed President of Walden University. Upon leaving Walden University, he cofounded Colgen, Inc., a private company dedicated to advancing innovation in leadership with an emphasis on soldiers, marines, and land power. Major General Scales was an experienced strategist, futurist, and expert in military history. He was known for leading educational staff rides at critical battlefield sites for the development of military and industry professionals. He authored several books, including Certain Victory, Firepower in Limited War, Future Warfare, Yellow Smoke: The Future of Land Warfare for America’s Military, and The Iraq War: a Military History (with Williamson Murray). For over 12 years, he was a valued commentator on military affairs for FOX News and could be heard on other media outlets like National Public Radio. He was a frequent contributor of op-eds about pressing military issues for The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. Most importantly, Bob was a devoted son, husband, father, and friend. He was known for his inspirational speeches and storytelling – whether in front of an audience of servicemembers or around the dinner table with his grandchildren. Each tale was accompanied by his quick wit and easy smile. His decades long dedication to military history guaranteed that each time he visited a museum, a crowd would follow. Major General Scales was known for speaking truth to power and he never lost sight of a leader’s most important mission; taking care of soldiers. He leaves an enduring legacy of mentoring the next generation of U.S. warfighters and of passing on lessons from the nation’s history to civilian and military leaders.

Major General Scales is survived by his wife of 57 years, Diana; daughters, Maria Cramer (Douglas), Monica Burke (Dennis); grandchildren, Matthew and Sophia Cramer, Sean and Diana Burke; and beloved family and friends.

The family will receive friends and family on Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Everly Wheatley Funeral Home located at 1500 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, Virginia 22302. A funeral service at Arlington National Cemetery will take place at a later date. Please visit www.StorkeFuneralHome.com to leave thoughts and memories of Bob Scales and find further updates. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Major General Scales’ name to either: the Army Heritage Center Foundation Ways to Give – Army Heritage Center Foundation (honoring the American soldier) or the Prostate Cancer Foundation Make A Gift – Prostate Cancer Foundation (pcf.org) (funding and accelerating prostate cancer research.)