- Name: Robert "Bob" Melvin Simonson
- Location of Birth: Glenwood, Minnesota
- Date of Birth: October 1, 1944
- Date of Death:
- Parents: Sam and Olga Simonson
- High School and Class: 1962 - Grand Rapids High School, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
- College: Dunwoody Industrial Institute - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bachelor of Science Degree - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Masters - Moorhead State, Industrial Education - Highest Rank: CAPT (Captain)
- Branch: Army
- Other Branch:
- Date Sworn In: August 18, 1965
- Place Sworn In: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date of Discharge: May 28, 1970
- Place of Discharge: Valley Forge General Hospital, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
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Units and Locations:
Start Date End Date Unit(s) and Location(s) Served August, 1965 November, 1965 Basic Training - Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri November, 1965 May, 1966 Training/Instructor - Radio School, Ft. Gordon, Georgia May, 1966 November, 1966 Officer Candidate School - Ft. Knox, Kentucky November, 1966 November, 1968 Company Commander - Basic Training Unit, Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri December, 1968 February, 1969 2nd Bn., 34 Armor - CuChi, Vietnam February, 1969 May, 1970 Valley Forge General Hospital - Pennsylvania - Military Awards:
National Defense Service Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Expert Badge - M14
Purple Heart - Military Highlights:
I was drafted into the Army in August, 1965. After completing Advanced Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia in Radio and Carrier School, I served a short time as an instructor in the school. From there I attended OCS at Fort Knox, Kentucky and received my commission as a 2nd LT in Armor (Tank Unit Commander). For two years, I trained Basic Trainees at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, first as a Training Officer and for 1 1/2 years as a Company Commander. While stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, I met my wife Toni. We have been married now for 50 years.
After completing a two week Jungle Training course in Panama, I was assigned to the 2nd BN, 34th Armor, attached to the 25th Infantry Division in CuChi, Vietnam. I served as assistant S3 and S3 Air. In January, 1969, I was wounded in a mortar attack and spent 2 weeks in a MASH hospital in Vietnam and 3 weeks in a hospital in Japan before being assigned to Army General Hospital in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. After a year of rehab I was released from active duty in May, 1970.
Per article from Grand Rapids Herald Review, November 1966
"2/Lt. Robert Simonson left Wednesday for Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, after having spent two weeks here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Simonson. Before coming to Grand Rapids on furlough, Simonson had been stationed at Fort Knox, KY, where he had attended officers candidate school for six months. Upon graduation from the school, he was commissioned in armor on November 1. He will be stationed at the U.S. Army Training center at Fort Leonard Wood." - Wars Involved:
Vietnam Era - MIA / POW:
- Civilian Life:
- Tribal Affiliation(s):