Leisure World News

A12 April 2022 • Community • www.lwca.com By John Latus Bob Lambert had an unusual career in the service. He grew up in Rhode Island and graduated from Scituate High School in 1960. His father had been a pilot in World War II and encouraged Bob to take up flying. He attended the University of Miami, Florida and joined the Air Force ROTC. By the time he graduated in 1965, he had already obtained his private flying license. At the end of senior year, ROTC tested the officer candidates to see if they had the attributes to become an Air Force pilot. No surprise -Bob passed, was awarded a 2nd Lt. commission, and was sent to Webb AFB, Big Spring, Texas to learn how to become an Air Force Pilot. Training was one year in three different aircraft: Cessna 172, T-37 jet trainer, and T-38 super-sonic jet. Upon graduation, he was assigned to Fort Benning, GA to learn to fly the C-7A Caribou, a twin-engine prop- driven transport aircraft designed for short, rough runways. After completion of this training, he was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, 17th Aviation Company at An Khe Vietnam. He landed in Saigon, Vietnam on December 31st, 1966, and left on December 23, 1967. The mission was to transport soldiers, food, supplies, and ammunition into forward operating bases and remove soldiers, including the wounded, and Vietcong prisoners to main operating bases. The runways at forward operating bases were often dirt roads made by running a jeep up and down the road pulling a length of chain link fence. It was here that the situation got a little strange. The Air Force and the Army had been engaged in an ongoing dispute. The Air Force wanted exclusive rights to all fixed- wing aircraft and the Army wanted all armed helicopters. An agreement had been written up to make this possible. Bob’s new base was an army base under the command of Army General Blanchard. He refused to sign the agreement, fearing that the Air Force might take control of his cargo planes leaving him without transport planes. He proposed that he would only sign the agreement if he were given control of the planes. And at the end of each month, they would examine the situation and extend the agreement if it were working. They all agreed. And Bob, in effect, was working for the Army. Bob would regularly take fire from the enemy, Vietcong, but they were not accurate. One incident was particularly hairy. As he was taking off from a forward runway, he noticed a “farmer” working near the end of the runway in a rice paddy. As soon as the farmer spotted Bob’s plane, he dropped his work tool and picked up an AK-47 rifle and aimed it at Bob’s plane. Luck was with Bob. A Huey gun ship was coming into land. Bob radioed him that he was taking fire from the guy in the rice paddy. Almost instantly a huge explosion took place in the rice paddy. When the smoke cleared, there was nothing left in the rice paddy. “You’re welcome,” said the helicopter. After a 1-year tour ended on December 23, 1967, Bob returned to the Good old USA! He was assigned to the Military Airlift Command as a C-141 pilot. The mission of the command was world-wide airlift support of military and diplomatic requirements. He stayed in this command until he retired as a Lt. Colonel after 21 years of service. He and his wife, Sharon, decided to settle inTacoma, WA. where they owned a home. Bob decided to take 18 months off to think about what he would do next. During that time, he worked around the house doing odd jobs to the house and in the yard. At the end of the 18 months, he decided to go into the home maintenance business, concentrating on service for senior citizens as well as single and widowed women. Both groups were typically taken advantage of and overcharged. His business thrived until he retired. For a number of years, Bob and Sharon took care of her parents who had built a home in Leisure World in 1977. When her parents passed away, the house was passed on to their daughter. Bob and Sharon came down to fix it up and sell it. They liked Arizona and were thinking of buying somewhere in the vicinity. They had never had the time to explore Leisure World when visiting their parents. After looking around the Leisure World community, they really liked it, and decided it was a great place to live. They kept her parents’ house and visited twice a year until Sharon succumbed to cancer. Since then, Bob has remarried, and he and his new wife, Betty Jean, are continuing to enjoy Leisure World. Bob is a regular in the Fitness Center, visits the golf range often, and takes care of his yard, helps his neighbors with their home maintenance problems and in general just appreciates the community. Thanks, Bob, for your service to our country and to the citizens who needed help. -John Latus is a veteran and LeisureWorld resident. If you are veteran — male or female — and want to be featured in LW News, please email news@lwca.com. VETERAN SPOTLIGHT Who Says You Can’t Serve Two Masters? Veteran Bob Lambert Did It in Vietnam C-7a Caribou similar to what Bob flew in Vietnam. WESTERNBANKS.COM • 480-807-7500 5901 E McKellips Rd, Suite 104 • Mesa Southwest corner of McKellips Rd and Recker Rd WE SUPPORT HOMETOWN HEROES. If you work (or worked) in education, fire, law enforcement, medical, or military, you’re eligible for $500 off mortgage closing costs* and excellent banking benefits from Western State Bank. VISIT US TO LEARN MORE! *Financing available upon approved credit. Must be closed/originated through the bank’s mortgage department upon credit approval. Member FDIC. 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