Devil’s Advocate
Veterans
Veterans Day Edition - 2018 By CRHS News
Cover photo by Rick Sorensen
Veterans Day
Sergeant Gregorio Robles, Jr. was just like any other teenager. A senior at Hartford Public High School, Robles didn’t know what he wanted to do but knew he wasn’t ready to go to college. After talking to a recruiter, he enlisted in the Army in December 1994. On June 22, 1995, two days after graduating from high school, Robles left for Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to attend basic training. There, he learned to live with all different types of people and personalities. “I learned teamwork, to take pride in my uniform appearance and the Army values,” said Robles, “which are loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.” Two months later, he was off to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for Advanced Individual Training to become a light wheeled vehicle mechanic. After two weeks at home, Robles once again left, this time to Fort Benning, Georgia for airborne training. There, he spent three weeks training to become a paratrooper. In January 1996, Robles found his first permanent station in Fort Bragg, North Car-
November 12, 2018
“Everything Happens For A Reason:” Gregorio Robles, Jr.
Special Edition
By Sarah LeMere
Photo contributed by Gregorio Robles, Jr.
olina. For two years, he was a part of the 82nd Airborne Division. In May 1998, he was sent to Fort Carson, Colorado. There, he finished out his active duty time, which ended in November 2000. Coming home wasn’t easy for Robles, who had to move into his aunt’s apartment and share a bedroom with his wife and one-
year old daughter. Finding work was a struggle without support from the Army, but Robles was hired as a security officer at Mount Sinai and Saint Francis hospitals in Hartford, Connecticut in May 2002. “I was tempted to re-enlist but chose not to because I did not want the Army to be a crutch, and I also didn’t want my
Photo contributed by Gregorio Robles, Jr.
Robles recieving the Department of Correction’s Medal of Valor on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Photo contributed by Gregorio Robles, Jr.
daughter growing up in that environment,” explained Robles. “I wanted her to grow up in a stable environment.” After just a few months working at the hospitals, Robles was hired by his current employer, the Department of Corrections, on Aug. 2, 2002. For over 16 years, he has worked in a prison as a captain, managing the most assaultive and disruptive inmates in the state. Robles believes that the Army prepared him for his current career. The Department of Corrections core values are professionalism, respect, discipline, integ-
rity and excellence, things that were instilled in him during his time in active duty. Although he fell on hard times coming home, Robles wouldn’t change anything from his experience. “If I was given the chance, I would definitely do it all again,” said Robles. “I believe everything happens for a reason. Good and bad. Change one thing and you don’t know what will happen. Say I chose a different job; I would probably never meet my wife, and our daughter would have never been born.”
Veterans Day
November 12, 2018
Special Edition
Robert Grenier: United States Army By Connor Rulnick
Photo by Yvonne Grenier
Veterans Day is a day to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, and to honor those who fight for our freedom every day. My grandfather, Robert Grenier, had an untraditional experiences in the Army, you may even call him ‘the lucky one.’ Grenier’s two-year stint in the United States Army beganwhen he was drafted and sent to basic training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. He mentioned that that the hardest part of basic training was “When they tried to break you,” Robert
Photo by Christine Grenier
said. “They yelled in your face… Once I got used to that, basic training wasn’t that bad.” However he’d be the first to admit that after basic training, his experience in the Army was a good time. Immediately after finishing basic training, Robert was sent to Walter Reed Hospital where he was assigned to the motor pool with no specific job. “I could drive any of the vehicles we had in the pool,” he said, “because I was a great driver, I got the opportunity to escort some very famous people.” He spent most of
his time driving for generals and other armed forces members. “I drove for Mark Clark who was in charge of the 5th Army when they invaded Italy during World War II.” He went on to say, “I drove for the General who was in charge of all the troops in Korea.” Grenier mentioned he was “the VIP driver.” Although he had some unbelievable experiences, Robert also made some very questionable decisions, ones that probably would’ve had serious consequence had be been caught. When Rob-
ert had to go pick up his future wife at the airport one night, he went to the motor pool and picked a vehicle to drive. “I had the availability to take any vehicle I wanted, so I took a staff car, and it happened to be the generals’.” Grenier went on to say, “my friend drove and I sat in the back, when we went through the gates, the MPs were saluting us. When we got to the airport, they moved all the wooden horses out of the way, and we parked right in the front. People everywhere were saluting.” Grenier was an E4, or Specialist 4th
Class, which is 18 ranks below a General. Robert Grenier can be called ‘the lucky one’ for many reasons. He made some of his greatest memories, he never saw an active war zone, and he met his wife of 53 years; however, that doesn’t take away the fact that he still proudly and bravely served in the United States Army.
Veterans Day
November 12, 2018
Special Edition
Twins in the Service
By Megan Szymaszek & Andrew Morro
If you were sent to Vietnam, you were there for exactly a year. “I remember getting off the plane with guys and getting on the plane with the same guys a year later,” said SGT. Frank Ambrogio. Photo Contributed By: Frank Ambrogio While in Vietnam, On the bus in Vietnam Frank served in Spc 5 James Amdrafted,” said Spec the 1st Infantry brogio and Sgt. 5 James Division, known as Frank Ambrogio are A week after the Big Red due to twin brothers from Spec 5 James was their insignia which New Haven, Condrafted, SGT. Frank featured a big red necticut who served and their mother 1. “I always hated in the Vietnam War. received a package the Army, but I was They were both in the mail. They always proud of the drafted in 1968, opened it to find fact that I served in which was the larg- dirty laundry from the Big Red.” Frank est draft year of the James. This was was later moved war. because the Army to a military intelWhen the twins issues you clothes, ligence unit which finished college, but because that both brothers got a nobody would hire Monday was Labor chuckle out of. them because they Day, there were no While Frank was in were 1A listed, uniforms to be isVietnam, his brothwhich meant they sued. Because the er James was statewere most likely Army gives you side. James was in going to be drafted. clothes, they told the 3rd Army DiviSo, they called the him not to bring sion and served as Army Recruitment any other clothes, an assistant to the Office and had so he had to wear Chaplain. their draft dates the same clothes “My brother was moved up. James for a week. So after probably the luckiwas drafted on Aug. being in the hot est man I knew in 29, and Frank was Georgia sun for a the army,” said drafted on Sept. week, his clothes Frank. 19. Because they were pretty nasty. James had origicalled and had their “I should’ve thrown nally signed up to draft dates moved them out, but I be a Chaplain’s Aide up, they’re both mailed them home,” because the training considered to have James chuckled. was close to their volunteered for the If you get home in New HavArmy. drafted in the en. When the orders “You never forget Army, you serve for were handed out, the date you were exactly two years.
James didn’t receive his. The Chaplain had requested to see him. The Chaplain informed him that they only needed two, and he was their third choice. However, the Chaplain’s Assistant was going to be leaving, so he had James stay on and train to become his new assistant. Come to find out, his original orders had him becoming a squad leader and going to fight with an infantry unit. After their two years were over, both brothers were treated very differently. Frank recalls an event where he was riding a bus home, and he was in his uniform. The bus driver and an older lady gave him a respectful nod, but there were two hippies in the back who were laughing
at him because he had a crew cut and a uniform. “In the 60s, most people were against the war,” explained Jim. Frank goes on to explain how the youth of the time treated them very poorly, but they were treated like heroes by the older generation. After this instance on the bus he, never wore his uniform in public. Both brothers looked back on their service very fondly. They happily told stories about basic training and their time in the service. They laughed at old stories and excitedly showed off their old pictures. This in contrary to the stereotype of Vietnam Vets that has them labeled as quiet and introverted.
Photo Contributed by: James Ambrogio
James outside of military church.
PAGE Veterans Day
November 12, 2018
Connor Niedmann: Serving America By Cole Niedmann
there compared to here. The rest of the time I was fueling up trucks or doing training and getting ready for the next mission.” What was your longest mission? “The longest mission that I was on for driving was about seven days. I traveled from Romania to Poland, and we went through four countries.” Photo contibuted by Connor Niedmann
When did you enlist in the Army and why? “I enlisted when I was 17 in my junior year of high school. I was in something called the Split Option Program which is where you go to basic training in between your junior and senior year. You complete your senior year, then you finish the rest of your training for your specific job. I enlisted because it was something I always wanted to do. When I was younger I always looked up to people in the military. I always was playing army as a kid.” Where did you serve and for how long? “So when I joined, I joined in the Army Reserves for a six-year contract. I am in my fourth year now. I was in the Reserves doing my one weekend a month [training] for about twoand-half years, then by word of mouth I found
out about a mobilization to Europe with a different unit. So I transferred units, did a couple drills with them, and we went to Texas for a month of training there. Then we went to Eastern Europe, and I traveled all over Eastern Europe for about nine months. I was gone for about a total of ten months.”
How many different countries were you in? “I went to Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.”
What was it like coming home, and what adjustments did you have to make? “It was weird coming home, you know, you’re used to seeing the same people everyday all day, doing the same thing What did you do dureveryday all day. You get ing your deployment? on a routine and then all “So my job title is moof a sudden it just stops. tor transport operator You come home and it’s which is basically a truck a little different. You driver. My specific unit don’t see the guys everyhauled fuel, so we would day like you used to. You haul diesel fuel or jet eat with them everyday, fuel. We would transport sleep in the same room, bulk fuel across borders drive the same truck. on convoys, filling up When they’re talking trucks along the way, or to their families you’re we would sit in one spot there. When you’re for a certain amount of talking to your family time filling up trucks. they’re there. So you The majority of my know a lot about them; time was driving; it was they basically become pretty cool seeing all the family. Then you come different countries and home and it’s a little bit how different it was out more difficult adjusting
to not doing that everyday.”
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What lessons or new things did you learn How did you feel inifrom your time entially when you came listed? home? “Definitely spend as “I felt relieved. Things much time with your were a lot less stressful. family as you can. Also, Then you start going the way people over along with the days, there live compared and when I came home to here is very differI didn’t have a job so I ent. There’s a lot more was sitting around during open land. A lot of their the day- there wasn’t money comes from farmmuch to do. It’s weird ing. There’s a lot more not seeing the guys- you farms in Romania. They talk to them, but it’s not did whatever they could the same. Your family in Romania.” has their own routine while you were gone so What message do you they continue with that have for people on Vetroutine and you come eran’s Day? back and your whole “I would just say take the routine changes. You time to say thank you. have to rebuild connecIt might not seem like tions with people, you it but somebody saying lose connections with thank you really means a people- and it happens. lot because a lot of guys It was definitely a big sacrifice a lot of their change. You’re looking time, and even more for things to do that try have sacrificed their lives to give you the same ex- or limbs. Veterans and citement, and you don’t military in general do a always know what to do lot for the country, and with yourself during the there’s a lot of people day. It takes awhile to get who don’t appreciate back into the groove of them or take advantage things.” of them. Maybe take five minutes out of your How do you think this day to donate. There’s experience has changed a lot of programs that you? help veterans returning “It definitely made me to the States with PTSD more mature. You get or other issues that they used to doing a lot of might not be able to afthings on your own, and ford on their own. Most you gotta figure things importantly, say thank out if you have an issue. you.” You really just gotta figure out how to do things on your own; there’s a lot of problem solving.”
PAGE Veterans Day
November 12, 2018
Special Edition
Troy Smith,U.S. Army: “An Experience Like No Other” By Bryce Fleck
Troy Smith swears in photo contributed by Troy smith
At 18, some kids tend to be lost or lack structure that properly prepares them for post-secondary school or a career. It in this position that 10-year Army veteran Troy Smith found himself. “At that time I really didn’t know what I wanted to do for a living, but I knew I didn’t want to go to college. I was interested in joining the military for quite sometime as I was interested in traveling and learning a trade. That way if I stayed in for four years or 20 I would have something to fall back on.” So at 18 he elected to join the Army as a small engine repairman. This job brought
him to eight foreign countries including South Korea, Germany, Italy, Panama, Croatia, Bosnia and Hungary. Which gave him some of the “greatest experiences” of his life. His first deployment at age 18 was to a sister unit that needed A air conditioner repairman. “You really don’t know what to expect on your first deployment.” Said Smith “At 18 years old, being told [Saddam Hussein] can launch missiles at you at anytime… It’s a lot.” While in Iraq, Troy Smith was a jack of all trades: repairing small engines, driving humvees and assist-
ing with satellites. He was also tasked with a lot of the dirty work on base such as burning feces and garbage. “That was the reality of the Army,” Smith said. “I really wasn’t there to only do small engine repair.” After a few years in, Mr.Smith was deployed to Yugoslavia the then combination of (Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia, Vojvodina and Kosovo.) This deployment involved three separate trips: first from his base in Germany, where he was tasked with building bases as well as repairing and establishing infrastructure for NATO
use. His second and third trips were from his base in Italy moving equipment and just “rotating personnel.” “Nothing really changed between the second and third trips to Yugoslavia.” He stated. The military did a lot for Mr.Smith. “I didn’t take it seriously, but it was something that made me a better person.” Smith said. “I was always being challenged; that’s something I admired about it [my service]. I always had to use my head.” Mr. Smith, who has two sons in the military, describes the military as a “great option” when choos-
ing career paths. “The military helps people get structure and exposes you to a lot of different people and ways of life,” Smith explained. “It also helps people get used to a schedule as well as learning how to adapt to your surroundings.” When reminiscing on his own service, he said it was the time of his life. “The best part was the travel… Being able to see all these different countries and cultures was amazing,” he said. “It also helped me build a sense of gratefulness for my own life, and I hope it does that for my kids. It truly is an experience like no other.”
Veterans Day
November 12, 2018
Having Pride in Serving
Special Edition
By Aidan O’Connell
At 20 years old, McDonald started creating a life for himself. He earned a Bachelor's dedanger.” William McDongree at the UniverAlthough Mcald’s service in sity of Connectithe military began Donald was far cut in business from active comdirectly after his and subsequently bat, his choice graduation from began a job at to serve in the Hamden High Moran Brush Commilitary cannot School’s class of pany. He married be downplayed. 1945. He then his wife, Shirley joined the Army I am currently a McDonald and had and was deployed senior. I could to the Philippines. not imagine being three children: William, Roy and shipped halfway While there, McDonald worked as around the world Claudia. He rarely spoke at age 19. McDonan Army clerk. Not all roles in ald chose to pause about the war. the military enhis life in order to However, during serve his country his later years, he tail service on began to feel more and be a part of the front lines. That being said, something greater like a veteran. He developed a pride McDonald’s than himself. daughter, ClauAfter World War for having served II ended, his time in the military. It dia O’Connell, is was at this time thankful that “he with the military that he realized was never in any ended as well.
there was honor in his decision to join the Army. Unfortunately, William passed away in March 2016. He lived a wonderful life and surrounded himself with his loved ones.
I hope that other veterans can learn to take pride in their service the same way William did--but not before they grow older. It does not matter how one served; it matters that they served.
Photo courtesy of Claudia O’Connell
Veterans Day
November 12, 2018
Ed Fronc- United States Navy
Special Edition
By Bailey Zettergren
Ed Fronc, a 49-yearold Navy veteran, grew up in Kentucky before moving to Florida at the age of 12. He was candid about his reasons for joining the Navy. “I thought the Navy was a good opportunity to figure out what I wanted to do in life,” Mr. Fronc said. He explained that he didn’t feel ready for college and didn’t want to waste his parents’ money. Mr. Fronc enlisted in 1988. The Navy stationed him in Groton, Connecticut on the Ulysses S. Grant Submarine. He became a fire control technician doing missile targeting in the North Atlantic. This experience took him as far away as Scotland. “When we were underway, we would receive familygrams,” Mr. Fronc said. “Basically they were like a telegram. We couldn’t send back; we could only receive messages.” He loved coming back to port; seeing his loved ones upon his return meant a
great deal to him. “It was incredible being able to see family again,” he said. Coming home is a process that is incredibly difficult to describe. Veterans experience a very long period of absence from comfort, security and their families while they are serving our country. When he came home, he decided to take advantage of Connecticut’s free tuition policy for veterans who served during Desert Storm. “It was really nice,” Mr. Fronc said. “Con-
necticut was one of only two states at the time to offer free college.” Mr. Fronc reflected on lessons he learned from serving in the Navy. After a thoughtful pause, he said, “The biggest one is teamwork.” He went on to elaborate about how he hopes his children, John-Rudy and Alessandra, find people in their lives who will have their back. “Being in the Navy really enforced that,” he said. We owe veterans more that we can ever repay them.
All photos contributed by Ed Fronc
“Remember those that lost their lives for us, and enjoy the life you have,” Mr. Fronc said. It’s important to think of what America would be like if we didn’t have veterans who served our country. Mr. Fronc lives by those words by making the most of his education in order to provide for his family. He is now a machine learning fellow at SAP, and happily married to Raffaela Fronc. He exemplifies what it means to have other people’s back with his
caring nature and willingness to help others.
Veterans Day
November 12, 2018
A Dream that Changed a Life
Special Edition
By Thomas Vallone
Korean War. “My father told me that it was the most nerve racking experience in his life,” Regina Vallone, Thomas’s daughter, stated. “Not knowing where he would be sent was something that he always said affected the way he lived after.” Vallone served a full tour from 1951-1955. During that year of enlistment, ValPhoto Contributed By Meryl Vallone lone was sent overseas exactly where As a son of two sion based on who he wanted to be in Italian immigrants he was. “He wanted Naples, Italy. Being born in the United to be overseas on a stationed in Italy durStates who grew up boat,” Ken Vallone, ing the Korean War in New Haven, ConThomas’s youngwas an experience necticut, Thomas G. est son, said. “It was that he would tell Vallone had only one always his desire to aspiration growing see where his parents forever. Having the ability to see where up: to serve his coun- came from.” try. After graduating Thomas was sent to he came from and from high school in the Great Lakes where serve the country he loved was something 1949 there was only he would take part one thing on his mind in vigorous activities many people do not have the privilege of and that was to enlist to show that he was saying. in the United States ready for deployBeing so far away Navy. ment. He only spent from home was Deciding what divi- 10 months in bootVallone’s biggest sion of the military to camp before it was join was an easy deci- time to go fight in the challenge, however.
Before being sent overseas, Vallone met the love of his life and leaving her was the hardest part. Every free moment that he was given was spent writing to his wife to ensure that he was safe. Although being away was such a challenge during his time in service, when he returned it made their relationship stronger then it ever was. Being the grandson of them I do truly believe that they were the closest thing to pure, undoubtedly love. While being overseas, Vallone was one of the head engineers on the his vessel, the skills he developed here allowed him to find work outside of the military. After his service he came home to become a steelworker for Pratt and Whitney. “The work that he did for the navy made him the man he was.” Ken stated. Thomas G. Vallone was a man that worked for every
thing in his life and displayed all of those hard working qualities everyday. When asking his son if he believes that serving in the military instilled characteristics that his father lived with Ken answered with,” My father was always working no matter how sick or hurt, if my kids had a sports game no matter what he was doing he was there.” The loyalty and belief that the job must be done was always in him but serving his country truly made these qualities something that he lived by. Before Thomas passed away he told his family one thing, “ Time is of the essence.” This one small phrase emphasized the man he was.
Veterans Day
Born in the final years of World War II, my grandmother, Mariann Arnold, witnessed the war--and the effects of the war--firsthand. She grew up experiencing many changes in her life directly due to the conclusion of the war, which impacted the style of her life tremendously. Her father, James Arnold, served as a member of the Navy and as a result of his service overseas, he came back a different man. She believes that because of the gore in battle from his trips, her father experienced so many traumatic events that he could not be the same man he once was. Ms. Arnold claimed, “When he came back, my parents’ marriage became very rocky, and he felt that he didn’t want to settle and felt that he needed space to himself because of the war and needed to do things that he wanted to do.” For example, she described that before he left for the war, he helped his father run a business and had everything going for him, and when he returned from the war, he showed no
November 12, 2018
Daughter of Veterans Reflects on Past intent to work with that business and showed interest in something that gave him more freedom. Because of his new sudden interest, it led him to the career of a truck driver for which he was able to travel the country alone and spend time delivering items.
By Kyle Roberts “Tom used to tell us stories about about the rations of food that they used to give them, which were small portions of canned food...At the time, they also used to receive rations of cigarettes because that was a necessity back then, especially for men serving.”
in workforce, they found ways to deal with it and go on. Because of the lack of employment and production, Mari“Women took over ann described that everything,” people in the U.S had to deal with many “They worked very struggles as a result hard to both proof the war. For exduce products and ample, since there to earn money. was a large shortage They were paid by of food, her family how many pieces had to stand in line Later in her life when Mariann also exthat they made for for food and were her parents were plained how the the soldiers. That’s given ‘ration tickets’ divorced and James departure of the men exactly why you see in order to be given had left, her mother to the war changed the poster of Rosie specific amounts of married a man the lifestyles of most the Riveter because food. She explained named Tom Hughes, people in the U.S. of how important the that times were difwho had served in According to Ms. women became.” ficult, but they were the Army during the Arnold, she vivable to manage and end of World War idly remembers the Ms. Arnold excome together as a II. She described amount of women pressed that even family. She is exthat even though that went into facto- with the difficulty tremely grateful for Tom was a very ries because of the that occured because that and for those open man, he and large loss of men in of the war, whether who were involved in his friends also very the workforce. For it was the PTSD that her life. rarely talked about example, her mother her family dealt the war. went to work at a with or the change “Tom was a very different father,” Ms. Arnold claimed. “Even though he came into our lives later, he wasn’t as dramatically affected from the war and was very involved and loved being with family... He very rarely talked about the war which was very common.” She also described how he explained the conditions of the time as well:
Photo contributed by Mariann Arnold
gun shop where she helped produce and send materials and guns to the men overseas.
Special Edition
Veterans Day
November 12, 2018
Special Edition
Finding a path through the Air Force National Guard By Shannon Carey
At a young age, Derek Cummings enlisted in the Air Force National Guard under early enlistment with his dad’s consent. Not knowing what he wanted to do in his life after high school, Mr. Cummings looked for a path and found the ANG. He spent his time doing one weekend a month, two weeks a year until he finally went to basic in 1984. He ended his career with the Air Guard as a sergeant after many years of giving back to our country. Mr. Cummings decided to enlist in the ANG because his father was in the guard. He liked the fact that he could serve and be part of the military for the United States. Being a proud American was always important to him, especially growing up and seeing
his father. To him, nothing was really difficult about serving our country, as all of the soldiers were in it together. Although Mr. Cummings did not get deployed actively, he did travel with the ANG to Spain and other states. He worked on electric lines for the ANG, describing it as “comparable to being a lineman for a power company.” The Air Guard helped Mr. Cummings in many ways. He got out of the Air Force because he got a job working on phone lines; however, he got the job because of the military. In the military, he worked on electric lines. On the civilian side he worked on phone lines, doing the same job. As a veteran, he loves to see the continuing and building support for veterans. When
Photo by Pam Carey
he was young, he noticed how there wasn’t much support for those who came home after Vietnam, a very controversial war; however, after Sept. 11, 2001 and other big conflicts, support is growing. Mr. Cummings expressed that, “People who
serve risk their lives for their country, just doing their job so it is nice to see the respect that they deserve.” also adding , “(showing support for veterans) means a lot more to a lot more people, not just the veterans.”
Mr. Cummings used the ANG as a path after high school which helped his career greatly. He really enjoyed the fact that he was able to spend time at home and have a job but also be in the military, as a proud American.
Veterans Day
November 12, 2018
Special Edition
Vietnam Veteran: “Home of the Free, Because of the Brave!” Robert P. Dorflinger Jr. By Colin Kelly It was March 13, 1961, 16 years after the events of World War II, when Robert P. Dorflinger, Jr., was getting ready to serve for the United States of America in the Vietnam War as a member of the Air Force. After seeing the bravery of his father’s service, Dorflinger was motivated to support his country by any means necessary, even at the young age of eighteen. Dorflinger’s father, Robert P. Dorflinger, Sr., was a World War II Air Force member from the famous 82nd Aiorne. There were many
factors that contributed to Dorflinger’s decision to join the Air Force, although quite possibly the biggest factor was his belief in the importance of freedom. His passion for the United States was built on the ideal that it is a free country, in which citizens may speak freely and believe in what they wish to believe in. From 1961 to 1964, Dorflinger fought in the Air Force in Vietnam against allies of the Soviet Union. “He fought to protect those who were innocent in South Vietnam,” Laura Lee Dorflinger, daughter of Robert, Jr., states. “While he struggled
with taking human lives as a soldier, he also saved numerous lives and and protected the freedom of those who were suffering.” Dorflinger’s service brought him to places other than Vietnam, including Okinawa, Japan, as a part of the 6313th Traffic Management Sayonara Party in 1964 and San Francisco, California, where he received his Certificate of Training on Aug. 29, 1963. Most of his time was spent in the heart of Vietnam, but he also spent time in Hawaii and New Mexico as well. Witnessing the true hardships of war, Dorflinger realized harsh realities of life at a young age. The most infamous story in the family describes a fortuitous and death-defying experience which he had. Laura Lee Dorflinger describes that specifically, one night in Vietnam, in the middle of the night, Robert, Jr. woke up and had to use the bathroom which was far outside his quarters. “While he was away from the quarters, his entire platoon was bombed, leaving him as the only surviving member of his group.” As he returned
home on January 1965, Dorflinger expected a large parade celebrating the war heroes’ return, such as his father received after World War II. Although, to his surprise, outside of his plane in the United States was a group of protestors. The United States’ involvement was controversial, and many people were angry at soldiers for being in Vietnam. Dorflinger and other soldiers were told, “Do not deplane,” for fear that the angry protestors outside the plane would harm them.
Despite this dis heartening scene, Dorflinger returned to his family and thereafter raised a family of his own, leaving an unforgettable legacy in Vietnam. After living an eventful life of war and family, Robert P. Dorflinger, Jr. is remembered for his bravery, compassion, and love for the United States. As a commemoration, the Dorflinger family displays images and plaques, one of which contains his favorite quote: “Home of the Free, Because of the Brave.”