Robert entered active duty in the United States Air Force (USAF) on June 7, 1960, in Raleigh North Carolina and graduated from Undergraduate Navigator Training (Aviation Cadets) on April 20, 1961, at Harlingen Air Force Base Texas.
He was then assigned to the 4505th Air Refueling Wing (AREFW), 427th Air Refueling Squadron, Langley AFB, Virginia on April 21, 1961. The squadron air refueled the new F-4As 600 miles west of Lajes, Field Azores, during the fighter’s first Atlantic crossing to Europe.
Robert then deployed with 463rd Troop Carrier Wing, 773rd Troop Carrier Squadron from Langley AFB to Clark Air Force Base, Philippine Islands on November 14, 1965. He flew 496 Combat Support Missions in Southeast Asia, completing his first flying combat tour in Vietnam.
Robert then began flight training and graduated from the USAF Pilot Training Course, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, June 21, 1968. He was Dual Rated Senior Pilot/Navigator
In June of 1968, he was assigned to the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron for F-100D Upgrade Training School at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. He then began a tour of duty with the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, March 13, 1969, flying the F-100D. Robert flew 238 combat missions and was awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary flight in mountainous terrain, adverse weather, and under hostile fire resulting in a sizeable enemy force being destroyed. Completed second flying combat tour.
He was then assigned 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron (F-100D/F), Royal Air Force Base (RAF), Lakenheath, United Kingdom on February 4, 1970, in Dedicated Nuclear Alert Forces committed to targets in Eastern Europe.
On December 24, 1971 he was assigned to 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, SC. He deployed with the Wing October 14, 1972 (72 A-7D aircraft 3 Squadrons) to Korat Royal Thailand Air Base in support of Linebacker II as Flight Lead of 6 A-7Ds from Myrtle Beach AFB to Davis Monthan AFB to Hickam AFB to Guam AB to Korat RTAFB. This was the first time in USAF history an overseas deployment arrived at a predetermined destination and at a predetermined time with all 72 aircraft according to the Air Tasking Order.
In total, Robert flew 106 combat missions in North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos and Completed three flying combat tours.
He retired as Lt/Col on June 30, 1980, and became a Boeing Flight Manual Tech-Data Writer.