The Silver Star
CWO Robert Lee "Bob" George
"Wolf Pack 38"
Gunship Aircraft Commander
Departed on his final mission 17 February 1999
There was no like 'im,
'Orse or Foot,
Nor any o' the Guns I knew;
An' because it was so, why, o' course 'e went an' died,
Which is just what the best men do.
R. Kipling
"HE SAVED US"
He loved to fly
And he was very good
He would always try
To do the best he could
When things got tough
And it looked bad
He would play it rough
And give all he had
I know because I saw
The results of his bravery
He pulled us from the jaw
Of the tiger of wars slavery
We were trapped on the ground
After they knocked us out of the sky
Our perimeter they began to surround
And soon we were going to die
It didn't look good
There wasn't a way out
We fought the best we could
But we were tired from the bout
With time running short
We were in great need
To God we gave our report
With the utmost of speed
The answer came fast
The answer was there
From this hell we would be cast
Back up in the air
He had landed to save
His buddies in trouble
He kept us from the grave
By bursting the enemies bubble
They thought they had us
We were in their death grip
It was a real circus
Until we saw Bob's ship
We all jumped aboard
To escape the attacks
And we left the horde
Dead in their tracks
Up, up, and away from harm
Bob took his ship and men
If felt so good and warm
Up in the air again
We all made it back
To families and wives
Because of a pilot from the Wolf Pack
We all were spared our lives
by "Tubby" Brudvig
Wolf Pack Gunner
CWO Bob George was born in Johnstown, PA, January 11, 1949. His parents,
William D. and Jean L. George, moved the family to East Stroudsburg, PA when Bob
was in elementary school.s Bob's sister, Nancy, rounded out the family of
four. Bob graduated as a National Honor Society student from East
Stroudsberg High School, also excelling in varsity sports where he lettered in
baseball and basketball. Bob was voted the most valuable baseball player
in his senior year. He was also a member of the school's rifle team.
Bob graduated from high school with a full academic scholarship to Pennsylvania
State University to pursue a curriculum in dentistry. However, he decided
to join the Army and become an Army Aviator and helicopter pilot. Bob
graduated basic training at Ft. Polk, LA and flight school at Ft. Wolters, TX
and Ft. Hunter, GA. Upon completion of flight training he was assigned to
the 281st Assault Helicopter Company at Nha Trang, South Vietnam, which
supported special operations missions of the 5th Special Forces Group.
Upon his return from the one-year assignment with the 281st AHC he married Lind
P. LaBadie on May 4, 1970, before reporting to Ft. Hunter/Ft. Stewart as a
helicopter instructor pilot. The couple set up their first home in nearby
Savannah, GA. Bob trained South Vietnamese pilots to fly gunships.
He was offered a direct Army commission but turned it down. His wife Linda
recently stated that Bob had "already used up his nine lives over there" and by
accepting a commission another Vietnam tour would have been likely.
Upon leaving the service Bob and Linda moved back to Pennsylvania where Bob
became an engineer with Instrument Specialties, a private company. Bob was
an avid sportsman and enjoyed golf, fishing, and hunting. He coached a
baseball team and loved playing softball. During his active and busy life
he also restored his sports car and he and Linda became fans of NASCAR racing.
The couple's last race together was the inaugural at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Bob loved to travel the racing circuit. He and Linda also loved their
Doberman, TAZ.
The following is a personal written message from Linda, Bob's devoted wife, to a
member of the 281st AHC Association's Memorial Committee:
"Guess you can tell he was my hero, he was the 'The Wind Beneath My Wings', Beth Midler's song from 'Beaches'. I never tire of talking about him. Since his death he has received the medal from the Order of the Silver Rose. I don't know how much you all know about Bob's Silver Star. Jim Brown actually put Bob in for the Medal of Honor but because no one was injured they knocked it down to a Silver Star. Jim used to tell Bob that he should have shot him in the foot so he would have gotten the Medal of Honor which he so richly deserved.
Bob George and Jim Brown remained steadfast friends throughout their lives since
first serving together in Vietnam with the 281st AHC. They both died of
cancer within nine days of each other. May they rest in peace! Bob
was interred at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 68, Grave 2745. His
date of death was 17 February, 1999.
On April 16, 2001, Bob was among twenty-seven deceased Vietnam veterans honored
by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund for their Third Annual "In Memory Day
Observance" for those who died as a result of their involvement in the war, such
as Agent Orange exposure, but not as a direct result of combat wounds.
Bob's awards include, the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star
with cluster, Air Medal with clusters, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal,
National Defense Service Medal and various decorations. He won Expert and
Sharpshooter badges for four different weapons and he wore the Army Aviator
Badge with pride.
April 16, 2001
To my dearest Gipper,
I can't begin to tell you how much I
miss you. I hear your voice, I see your face, everywhere. You
will always be in my heart. I pray you know that you were my best
friend, the love of my life and my "hero".
Not many people in this life
perform acts of selflessness and uncommon valor, you my darling husband
have done so, and have touched the lives of many! You have "made a
difference" in this world and rarely, if ever, did you realize the
magnitude of you heroics.
I hope you are watching and
listening to all those who love you, cause I know how proud all this
"fuss" would make you. You will never be forgotten, not by this
generation or the generations to follow.
I am so proud of you, I only wish that
I or one of your comrades could have told you what a "difference you made
in this world" for all of us!
I will always love you from the depths
of my soul! Until we meet again, I remain.......
Your loving wife
Viet Nam 1969
Home
Arlington National Cemetery
January 30, 2001
I am writing to thank
you for saving my fathers life in Vietnam in 1969 when his helicopter was shot
down on Thanksgiving Day! Bob, I am sure you remember this because the
last time I saw you we talked about it and how hard it was to get my Dad into
your helicopter. I would not be here today, twenty years old, and a very
happy young woman, if it hadn't been for your heroics.
I have had so many great
times with my father. I could be here for days telling you everything he
has done for me. He was the one who showed me how to hold a bat and was my
softball coach for many years. I distinctly remember on Christmas morning
1997 when my Dad gave me a present to open. In it was a pair of socks with
car keys inside. The car keys were to my new red Mustang. I know
that he had spent weeks looking for that car just for me.
All of this because of
you, Bob. You are a hero because you saved my Dad's life. I cannot
imagine how frightened you were the day you picked my Dad up with guns firing in
all directions.
Thank you with all of my heart.
Love,
Amanda Evangelho
May 25, 1988
Dear Bob,
You don't know me at all, but I hope to explain to you who I am. I live in California with my husband. He plans to retire on July 1st. We have raised six children, matter of fact five sons
and one daughter, who we both love very much. My career was in staying
home and raising my family. I guess we have been real lucky and blessed,
not having a bad one in the bunch.
You had an important role in my life, as the way it turned
out, you kept me from having a broken heart. How can one mother thank you
enough for what you did for my beloved Son and his family.
Ever since you saved Daryl's life I've had a picture of you
in my mind as being so courageous that certain Thanksgiving Day.
I've thought about it every Thanksgiving since then.
You took a judgment from your heart that day to save some men, and how can
anyone show their appreciation?
Daryl always loved home, loved his brothers and sister one
day, fighting the next, and he really didn't want to go off to an undeclared
war. His oldest brother was just getting home from the Marines in Viet
Nam. It all seemed like a horrible dream to me. My sons were
very good in writing to me and sending me tapes.
I'm just saying that your Mom and Dad ought to be real proud
of you. It seems they did a great job in raising a son like you.
I want to thank you for letting me see my son's
Wedding to a great girl, for being there when his son was born, and see Daryl
teaching him baseball at nine months old. Seeing his little girl be born
and who is my little tap dancer.
If it wasn't for you I could have missed these important
facts in my life. So in closing Bob, one more happy memory was when Daryl
came home and surprised me. He called from the back door "Anyone home? I went running down the back stairs and picked him up off the
ground. I'll always be grateful to you for this.
All the best to you in your life, and God Bless you and keep
you. I'm so glad you boys got in contact one again to heal old wounds.
Sincerely,
Joan Evangelho
Monday October 31, 1988
Dear Bob,
We received your great tribute to our
Bob last Friday, and to say the least, we were shocked! Your letter hit us
like a bolt "out of the blue"! After some tears, after some memories,
after some looking at pictures Bob took in Nam, some including you, I feel
composed enough to sit down and write what I hope are some coherent thoughts.
First, its obvious that you and our Bob share a very special
relationship, a relationship that only a comrade in arms can fully appreciate.
When you feel responsible not only for your own life but for the life of others,
that has to be something really, really special.
Bob, I'm glad to hear you've gotten over any guilt feelings
you might have had. Rarely, if ever, does it prove to be worth while to
play the "what if" game. I'm not a fatalist nor do I know what God's plan
is for any of us. What happened, happened, and all of us have to get on
with our lives the best we can.
There's not a day goes by that we don't miss him and wonder
what he would have been like if he were alive today.
We try to get to Arlington at least once a year to place
flowers on his grave. My wife's parents and sister are also buried in
Arlington, so we visit several graves.
Have you gotten to the Viet Nam Memorial yet? I'm
enclosing a picture of Bob's name as it appears on the Memorial.
We, of course, endorse your idea of having a special memorial
dedicated at Arlington on Bob's and others behalf. If you efforts are
successful and they result in some kind of ceremony, we'd be honored to attend.
Bob, we'd love to meet you in person and if you ever get to
this area, we'd love "to break bread" with you and meet your wife and family.
With warmest regards,
Don and Lill Gardner
Mom & Dad with young Bob