A memorial service was held Saturday at Hunter Army Airfield’s Truscott Terminal for the first commander of the 24th Infantry Division upon its reactivation at Fort Stewart.

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Donald Rosenblum died Tuesday, September 6, in Savannah at age 93.

Rosenblum, then a 46-yearold brigadier general, was chosen by Chief of the Staff of the Army Gen. Creighton Abrams to head the reactivation of the 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart.

“On the heels of the Vietnam War, this assignment was considered an extremely challenging one, but Rosie’s determination and exceptional leadership allowed him to rise to the task,” his obituary stated. “His unwavering pursuit of excellence and professionalism, coupled with his quick wit, intellect, unswerving honesty, and love of soldiers propelled him to the promotion of major general and the command of the newly re-formed 24th Infantry Division.”

Rosenblum eventually earned promotion to lieutenant general and retired as commanding general of the 1st Army at Fort Meade, Maryland. He made Savannah his home in his post-Army life.

Rosenblum was born June 3, 1929, in Flushing, New York, and grew up in the Hell’s Kitchen section of New York City. After high school, he attended The Citadel and was given command of an infantry platoon in the Korean War upon graduation and commission.

For the remainder of his life, his experience at The Citadel and leading men in combat would be the foundation for his long and prestigious military career, post military success, and community involvement.

Along with wife Laura, Rosenblum moved 22 times in a 33-year Army career. His assignments included command of an infantry company in the 82nd Airborne Division and serving as a staff officer in Germany as The Berlin Wall was being built.

He also served multiple tours in Vietnam, leading the 2/327 Airborne Infantry Battalion of the 101st Airborne Division and later leading as the 101st’s Division Support Command. He graduated from the Army War College and also served as executive officer for the Army director of operations.

He was awarded two combat infantryman badges, a Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star with V device and oak leaf cluster, among his many decorations.

Rosenblum was also chair of the Metropolitan Planning Commission, worked for U.S. Rep. Bo Ginn and started his own consulting firm in retirement.

In 2006, he married Nancy Terry Hooten.

He is survived by his wife,, seven children, 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

An internment service was held Saturday, September 17, at 2 p.m. at The Citadel’s Summerall Chapel and Columbarium in Charleston, South Carolina.