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Today's Featured Biography

 
Richard Roberts

I post this at Don Herb's urging. Sorry if too long. Really did my best to keep short.

My family left Sunbury in 1955 for Northern NY State where my dad had purchased a newspaper. Spent freshman and sophomore high school years up there where I traded off the trumpet for sports to include football, wrestling. baseball (and track ). Despite the fact that I had pretty much lost interest in the trumpet, did accept a trumpet/academic scholarship to Valley Forge in 1957 where I did my last two years of high school. Was looking for "opportunity".

Did not enjoy Valley Forge all that much, but did manage to secure their nomination for an appointment to one of three service academies. Decided to compete for West Point and after a nationwide competition I fortunately won an appointment to West Point in 1959. (Never played trumpet again after Valley Forge).

After the very tough plebe year (back in the day), I did enjoy the West Point experience and the fantastic education in arts and sciences. Graduated in 1963 with BS (Engineering)and selelcted Infantry as my commissioning branch. Gung Ho young fellow was I.

After stints at Paratroop School and Ranger School, I reported to 101st Airborne Division in KY in early 1964. In 1965 we deployed to Viet Nam where I served as Paratroop Infantry Platoon Leader before I was seriously hit and evacuated all the way back to the States. Recovered fully after a few months and was assigned to the 101st Division elements remaining in KY. In late 1967 my new brigade deployed to Viet Nam were I served as Company Commander of Paratroop Infantry Company during 1968 which included the so-called Tet Offensive. By the grace of God I made it out of there in one piece, and then spent the next 15 plus years helping establish a viable combat intelligence system for Army Tactical Units which drew heavily on high tech developments.

Amongst various command and staff assignments served as Army Attache in Israel where I conducted collaborative programs with the Israeli Defense Forces and became a Middle East Expert (if there is such a thing?). After 20 plus years a family matter caused me to leave Army prematurely. It was difficult as I was committed to soldiering and our soldiers. In my heart I will always be a soldier.

During my Army career I attended Tulane University where I earned a master's degree in operatiions research/ systems analysis, bascially applied math and information systems theory. After the Army I used my technical education to work on various Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasedena, CA) projects for a period of eight years. Most of the work dealt with command and control/intelligence systems and simulation system design and devlopments. Was intersting and quite challenging, but my real undeveloped interest was in the world of investments.

Had been fascinated by portfolio theories for many years so I decided to get into the business. In early 1990s began third career in the Financial Planning World, initially as planner and ultimately as manager. I loved the business, especially helping folks with planning ranging from the very simple to quite complex. After seventeen years I decided to leave that business to begin a fourth career as writer, another unfilled passion of mine.

I am currently invloved with a couple of think forums (mostly Middle East stuff),and am hacking out a historical novel, 1945-1970.The work in progress is currently stalled in the year 1962 due to my golf addiction, but as the NC weather finally cools I will soon be back at it. What a learning experience writing this book has been so far. Should I someday get it published, some of you will recognize yourselves. It is a novel so the names have been changed to protect the "guilty" or "innocent" . Nonetheless, the characters do shine through -- be they good or not so.

A couple years ago my dear wife Connie and I moved back East to Charlotte NC area after 20 plus years in Seattle. We loved it there, but we have daughter and her family in South Carlina and my mother, now 97, is living in Shamokin Dam.

Please don't be hesistant to send me a note to tell me what you have been up to all these years , and by all means let me know if you come this way. I did take peruse the class roster and do remember most of you (especially the Drumheller gang) , but frankly was bit disappointed there were not more bios to read.

God Bless you all, Dick Roberts

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