Col. Robert M. Rawls
US Army, WWII, Korea, & Vietnam

Exhibit Curated by Christiana "Christy" Marcroft
University of Florida Student
NASFL Museum volunteer 

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• Born November 6, 1918 in a military base in Virginia.
  
• Served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
  
• Entered the US military Academy in West Point and graduated in 1942.
  
• Served with General George Patton’s 80th Division, Third Army, in France and Germany.
  
• Served in WWII as S-3, Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer
  of the 305th Combat Engineer Battalion, 80th Infantry Division from August 1942-45.
• Received Bronze Star for meritorious service from August to November 1944.
  
• Fell in love with aviation in his tour with Patton’s Third Army.
• Was a liaison pilot and aerial observer from 1947-49.
  
• University of Southern California Aviation and Missile Safety Division.
  
• Command and Staff Officers Orientation Course June 4-8, 1962.
  
• Member of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
  
• Earned a master’s in engineering at MIT.
• Active aviation photographer and writer.
  
• Manager of the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
  
• Retired in 1965.
  
• Died of congestive heart failure at age 83, June 22nd 2002.
• One of four Founders of Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Historical Association & Museum.
  

Click on image to Play Slideshow (top left corner), or click on arrows >> (top right corner) to view each photo.

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