Onslow Sherburne Rolfe “Pinkey” born on 16-01-1895, in Rockwood, Fitzwilliam, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States, His father was Army Colonel Robert Henry Rolfe,
and his mother was Grace, born Stearns, the daughter of New Hampshire Governor Onslow Stearns.
In 1917, Rolfe married Nan Elizabeth Belles of New Brighton, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of a daughter, Ann Sherburne Rolfe, who was the wife of Brigadier General Charles Albert Symroski.
.Rolfe attended schools in several states, Cuba and Japan while his family moved for his father’s military postings. Onslow completed high school at St. Luke’s Episcopal School in Wayne, Pennsylvania, and then attended Columbia Preparatory School in Washington, DC in anticipation of applying for admission to the United States Military Academy.
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Rolfe was admitted to West Point in 1914; his classmates nicknamed him “Pinkey” because of his red hair and flushed complexion, and the nickname stuck with him for the rest of his career. His was ranked 109th of 151 students when his class graduated early in August 1917 because of the immediate need for officers as the army expanded during American entry into World War I. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry, and was assigned to the 7th Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to first lieutenant on August 30.
In October Rolfe joined his regiment in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In late October and November, he attended the Infantry School of Arms at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He then joined his regiment at Camp Greene, North Carolina and took part in pre-deployment training prior to going overseas. The regiment departed for France in March 1918.
After arriving in France the regiment took part in combat operations as part of the 3rd Division. under command of Field Marshal Sir Cyril John Deverell
Memorial to Field Marshal Cyril John Deverell in York Minster.
Rolfe was a participant in the Second Battle of the Marne in July and August 1918, and received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism while moving and positioning 3rd Division reinforcements during a critical juncture in the battle. Onslow was promoted to captain in September 1918, and took part in the Meuse–Argonne offensive. Rolfe was wounded as the result of a gas attack in October, for which he received the Purple Heart.
Rolfe was convalescing at a hospital in France when the Armistice of 11-11-1918 ended the war, and he remained hospitalized until January 1919.
Rolfe’s post-war assignments included the 131st Military Police Battalion (Fort Dix, New Jersey), 3rd Division Demobilization Group (Camp Pike, Arkansas), and Machine Gun Company, 4th Infantry Regiment (Fort Benning, Georgia).
In the 1920s and 1930s, Rolfe’s assignments included postings with the 4th, 18th, and 27th Infantry Regiments. In addition, he was professor of military science at Rutgers University, and senior observer and advisor for the Wisconsin National Guard. Rolfe graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1936, and then completed the Field Artillery Officer Course, after which he was assigned as senior Infantry instructor at the Fort Sill Field Artillery School.
At the start of World War II the Army began to create and field units of light Infantry troops designed to operate in cold weather and at high altitudes. Rolfe was assigned to command 1st Battalion, 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment. His success at organizing this battalion and leading it during its initial training led to assignment as commander of the regiment and promotion to Colonel. Unknown Army planners apparently thought assigning Rolfe to command a unit that would train to use skis and snowshoes was logical, because he had been born in New Hampshire; they were apparently unaware that he had left the state at six years old and had virtually no experience in winter sports. Despite his unfamiliarity with skiing and snowshoeing, Rolfe soon became proficient, and ensured that the soldiers in his regiment did likewise. From 1942 to 1945 Rolfe commanded the Camp Hale, Colorado Mountain Training Center,
and received promotion to Brigadier Genera. During his command of Camp Hale, the 85th, 86th, and 87th Mountain Infantry Regiments were organized as the 10th Light Division (Alpine), and Rolfe was responsible for ensuring that the division had the facilities and equipment necessary to complete its training, to include ski slopes, cliffs for rappelling, skis, and winter camouflage uniforms.
Rolfe joined the 71st Infantry Division as assistant division commander in January 1945. The division took part in the Rhineland campaign and the Western Allied invasion of Germany. The 71st Division participated in the liberation of several concentration camps, including one in Austria called Gunskirchen Lager, a subcamp of the Mauthausen-Gusen facility. The 71st Division advanced further east than any other Allied unit, and made contact with Soviet forces near Linz on 08-05-1945.
The 71st Division carried out occupation duties in Austria after hostilities ceased, and Rolfe commanded Land Area Salzburg. From August 17 to October 10, 1945 Rolfe was commander of the 71st Infantry Division. Rolfe returned to the United States in 1947 and was assigned as chief of the development section in the research and development office at Headquarters, Army Field Forces.
In 1952, Rolfe was assigned as commander of the Japan Logistics Command’s Northern Command Area. From 1953 until his 1954 retirement, Rolfe served as commander of Headquarters and Service Command, Far East Command.
In addition to the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart, Rolfe received the Legion of Merit and the Soviet Order of the Patriotic War First Class
for his service with the 71st Infantry Division. He was decorated with the Distinguished Service Medal for his post-World War II service in Japan.
Death and burial ground of Rolfe, Onslow Sherburn.

In retirement, Rolfe resided in Winter Park, Florida. He died in Winter Park on 29-01-1885, age 90. Rolfe was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 3, Site 1829-B.

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