Bob's is a familiar face at our meetings.
He is proud of recently being recognized for
60 years service to NC Harmony. He became
an Entered Apprentice March 13, 1946.
Bob was a Boy Scout when he was young.
There he earned his bugling merit badge.
You will see how this affected his destiny.
When World War II started, Bob was working
making chemicals used in the manufacture of
ammunition. He got a letter starting out "Greetings".
He joined the Navy. He went into the Construction
Battalion (Seabees). He was sent to Hollandia,
New Guinea, in the South Pacific. During formation,
a question was given to his unit "Can anyone play
the bugle?" At the time, Bob did not know what
NAVY
stands for (Never Again Volunteer Yourself).
He
said that he could. He was made bugler for his
unit. From that day on, he had to be the first one
up so he could play reveille.
But that also had benefits. Since he was the first
up, he got to be first in the chow line to eat
breakfast. After breakfast, he had no responsibility
until time to play to call everyone to lunch. Bob
got to see the sights in the New Guinea Jungle. He
saw crashed Japanese airplanes at the airfield, and
explored caves filled with Japanese radio equipment.
He visited native villages. He had to be back
in time to play the bugle to call everyone to lunch,
to dinner, and to play taps at night. His unit built
docks, hospitals, airfields, and water supply
installations. He was discharged from the Navy
in 1945 after the war ended.
After the war, his construction skills were used in
his job as a mechanical engineer at A.M Kinney. He
got married, raised a family, attended night school,
and operated a dry cleaning business on the side.
Business travel expanded his horizons. Ask Bob if he
likes filet mignon. Bob lives in Miami Heights, and
has 4 children, Rocky, Jimmy (living in Baltimore),
Nancy, and Janeen. Rocky is a member of NC Harmony,
as is his son-in-law, Bill McCormick. Be sure to ask
Bob about his adventures at the next meeting.