Editing Francis Marlin Blackthorne (section)

===The Rommel Affair:===
Blackthorne was involved in the rescue of Rommel and his family in 1944 and his secret defection to the USA.   Rommel, Wife, Lucia, and his daughter Gertrude were brought to the USA.  His son Manfred Rommel remained in Germany and after the war eventually went into politics.  
The Rommel family lived on the Blackthorne estate in Colorado till his death in 1994 at the age of 103. He became a US citizen in 1955.   His son visited his father several times privately till after his presence in Colorada was revealed to the world in 1969.  He became a lecturer at military academies around the world and a noted critic of communism.

Promoted to Colonel in 1945, he played a critical role in shaping post-war Marine doctrine, particularly in counterinsurgency warfare and Marine air-ground coordination.

WW2 awards include 2 Silver Stars, 3 Bronze Stars, Distinguished service cross. 2 purple hearts. And foreign awards.