Bob was born in 1934 in Abington, Pennsylvania, and was raised in Horsham, Pennsylvania.  He had one older brother and one older sister.  His father served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the First World War and was in command of the Research and Development of the First U.S. Army Tank Corps, serving for 15 years. His right-hand man was the recently graduated West Point Cadet, George Patton.

Bob’s brother served in the Marine Corps at Cherry Point in the Rescue Asbestos Ground Crew.  His brother’s wife also served in the Marine Corps as an Aerologist and held the rank of Master Sergeant.

Bob graduated from high school in 1953.  He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1953, serving with MAC 17 Close Air Support Radar as a Radar Technician at Naval Air Station Willow Grove Pennsylvania.  During his time at Willow Grove, Bob participated in the Marine Corps Reserve Close-Order Drill Team.

While at Willow Grove NAS, he was responsible for detecting a wave of seven bogies approaching the East coast off Atlantic City, New Jersey.  It was noon and he did not go to lunch, staying at the radar scope.  He alerted the base who promptly sent up aircraft for interception.  As a result of his actions, the bogies were intercepted before reaching our coast.  The bogies turned out to be part of a secret Government test to see how far unidentified aircraft could penetrate into the U.S. airspace before being detected and challenged.  Being the only radar detection on the whole East coast to react, his unit was commended and was named the most combat ready Marine Corps Reserve unit in the United States.  In addition to Willow Grove Bob was also stationed at El Toro, California.  He was honorably discharged on 22 May 1961 as a Corporal. 

Following his discharge, Bob joined the Marine Corps League in Bristol, Pennsylvania.  In 1955 Bob married his high-school sweetheart, the former Nancy DeWald, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania and is now celebrating nearly 52 years of marriage.  He has one daughter, one son, one granddaughter, and has a great-grandson due in April 2007.

Bob retired in 1991 after 38 years with Yale Manufacturing Corporation, Forklift Division.  He was employed for 28 years as a Design Engineer (with patents), and 10 years as Manager of the Warehouse Distribution Center of after-market parts in Flemington, New Jersey.

His post-secondary education consisted of ten years of night school at Penn State University, earning him his baccalaureate in Mechanical Engineering.  In addition Bob also received three years of schooling through the Marine Corps Institute.

Bob and Nancy moved to the Outer Banks in 2003.  Shortly thereafter he became a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 16-07 Outer Banks, and serves as a Coxswain.  He is also a member of the Masonic Lodge #521 Manteo, North Carolina and serves as Moderator for the Christian Education Committee at the Outer Banks Presbyterian Church.

Bob’s hobbies are boating, fishing, golf, working with stained glass, and woodworking.

Bob was appointed as the first Adjutant/Paymaster of the newly-formed Marine Corps League Outer Banks Detachment on November 18, 2006.