Salute: Sgt. Bob was 'there' during Vietnam War

EUSTIS – For many, both military and civilian, all they need to know is, "he was there."

That's more than enough for Americans with some semblance of what the Vietnam experience was like for these friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and even strangers who trudged through thick jungle, routinely landed in hot LZs and, upon coming home, found themselves in a largely divided nation where "thank you for your service" was decidedly not the refreshingly common greeting it often is today.

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Emanuel Bob of Mount Dora is still known to close friends as "EZ," the nickname he picked up in the Army. He indeed has an easygoing way and a certain unflappability that matches the calm speech patterns of one who knows the difference between minor inconveniences and the stuff of battle.

EZ calls his baby brother, Eustis' Theo Bob, "my best buddy" and is proud of his sibling's service, which included a captaincy and time spent as an ROTC instructor at his alma mater, Florida A&M.

Army Sgt. Emanuel "EZ" Bob served in Vietnam.
Army Sgt. Emanuel "EZ" Bob served in Vietnam.

"But he's got that all wrong," says Theo. "My big brother has always been my hero. And he still is.

"I was just a sixth grader, living in Chicago when Emanuel came up to see me from his hometown leave (in Eustis) before shipping for Vietnam," Theo said in an interview Thursday.

"He was on a two-year enlistment but they were pinning sergeant stripes on him before he even got on the 'Freedom Bird' at the end of his year in-country. EZ had picked up two Army Commendation Medals and, of course, the Combat Infantry Badge," said the younger Bob. "He's the guy."

"Yeah, I was an Eleven Bravo," EZ confirms with low-key, matter-of-fact pride in using the moniker for the infantry MOS (military occupational specialty).

Bob was assigned to the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), also known simply as the "Red Diamond" — a command which traces its history back to 1808.

EZ  pulled duty as an APC (armored personnel carrier) driver among other billets as he quickly climbed the ranks to NCO.

The former Bates Avenue High School basketballer fought with the M-14 and M-16 rifles but when asked which he preferred, Bob said without hesitation, "Neither. My weapon of choice was the M-79 Grenade Launcher. And I got pretty good with that thing.

"It was easy to aim," he said, "I could just throw it up on my hip and let 'em have it."

He scored some R&R during his time in Southwest Asia, with jaunts to Australia and Thailand.

Army Sgt. Emanuel "EZ" Bob, left, with his younger brother, Theo Bob.
Army Sgt. Emanuel "EZ" Bob, left, with his younger brother, Theo Bob.

And EZ received training — and experience — as an MP and Corrections NCO at Fort Lewis, Washington, before his enlistment ended, landing him a civilian job at Joliet State Prison in Illinois.

His favorite leader during his time in service?

"That would be my captain in Vietnam. But you'll have to forgive my memory if I can't pull up his name just now," he said, apologizing for "being a step or two slower."

Both issues are part of a big handful of service-connected maladies the VA has been addressing. And successfully so, we're happy to report.

And that captain — what made him special?

"He was there," EZ said, with characteristic directness and brevity. "I mean: not back in the rear, not hanging out at his CP (command post). He went on patrol with us. He was always with us in the field.

"A leader shows up," Bob said, wearing a trace of a smile and a warrior's glint in his eye.

As briefly noted here last week, Ens. Loanna Torrance (third from left), a  Umatilla High School graduate from Altoona, received her commission during ceremonies on July 6. And she wasn't without the good company of her U.S. Coast Guard Reserve peers, who also picked up their "butter bars." Left to right are Ensigns Milena Canete and Carly Osborn , both from Orlando; Torrance; and Olga Timirgalieva, who grew up in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Sgt. Bob was 'there' during Vietnam War