Colonel Robert Paul Wagner III (U.S.M.C Ret.)

Colonel Robert Paul Wagner, III, USMC (Ret), 70, of Stafford, VA passed away at Mary Washington Hospital on Monday, April 5, 2021. He was born on March 21, 1951 in Columbus, Ohio and was a graduate of Linden-McKinley High School. The Marine Corps has lost a family man. A true Marines’ Marine. Col Wagner quietly set the example and was mentor to many Marines who affectionately called him ‘Daddy Wags’. He was a friend to all who knew him. Col Wagner enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1969 and served with 1st Marine Division on Hill 327 outside of Da Nang, Vietnam and with 2nd Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego as a drill instructor. Following his enlistment, he attended The Ohio State University where he earned his degree in Health Education and went on to work with the Ohio Department of Health for several years. He then returned to service completing Officer Candidates School where he was named honor graduate of 112th Officer Candidate Course. Upon completion of The Basic School and Infantry Officer Course he reported to 1st Battalion 6th Marines where he served as rifle platoon and 81 mm mortar platoon commander and Weapons Company Executive Officer. In 1982, he reported to 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force where he served as a reconnaissance platoon commander and operations officer. He then served with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division as a company commander. After completing Amphibious Warfare School in 1986 he was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps as the company grade infantry officer assignments monitor. From 1988 to 1991, Col Wagner was assigned to the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division where he served on the regimental staff and with the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines as a company commander and as the battalion operations officer during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was the assigned to the U.S. Department of State, Office for Counterterrorism, Office of Military Affairs. In 1992 he served as a tactics instructor at the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School and was selected to attend the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He graduated from Marine Corps Command and Staff College in 1994, where he earned a Master of Military Studies Degree. Col Wagner then reported to Special Operations Command Europe where he served from 1994 to 1997 in the Current and Contingency Operations Sections and participated in operations in the Balkans and in Africa. He then reported to 1st Marine Division where he served on the division staff prior to taking command of 2nd Battalion 1st Marines. As Commanding Officer of 2/1 and Maritime Special Purpose Force Commander he deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf. In 1999, he attended the Marine Corps War College where he earned a Master’s in Strategic Studies and upon graduation was assigned to the faculty of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. From 2002 to 2004, Col Wagner served as Commanding Officer of Weapons & Field Training Battalion, MCRD San Diego. Following his command, he was assigned as Deputy Director for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps until his retirement on December 31, 2005. Following retirement, he remained in government service as Chief Liaison Officer for the Joint Warfare Analysis Center in Dahlgren, Virginia. His personal decoration includes a The Legion of Merit Medal w/gold star in lieu of second award, Bronze Star Medal w/V, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal w/cluster, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon. He is survived by his loving wife, the former Linda Silness of Columbus, Ohio; daughter, Sarah Louise Oliver (Justin); three sons, Robert Evan Wagner (Neila), Eric Hutton Wagner; Thomas Augustus “Gus” Wagner; sister, Barbara Sachs; brother, Gary Bowers; two grandchildren, Leah and Henry, and ten nieces and nephews. A celebration of life was held at Quantico Base Chapel on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 1:00 pm. Inurnment followed on April 26, 2021 at 11.00am at Quantico National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to SemperFiFund.org. Online condolences may be sent at www.mullinsthompsonstafford.com.