The Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club has named Bob Brockmann the December Veteran of the Month.
He was born July 28, 1941 in Chicago west suburban Berwyn, where he lived until he was married. He was graduated from Morton West High School in 1959. He went to work for 1st National Bank of Chicago from 1960-1965. In 1963, Bob enlisted in the Marines Reserves. When he worked in the mess hall he helped with serving the food, there was a motto: “Take all you can eat, but eat what you take.” Bob went into boot camp at 135 pounds and came out at 198 pounds with a 32-inch waist. He achieved the rank of corporal and was a squad leader of 13 men. Following boot camp, he spent three months at Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he was exposed to the contaminated water and is considered 60% disabled as a result. Following Camp Lejeune, Bob was sent to Norfolk, Va. for amphibious training.
In 1964, his unit was sent to Camp Pendleton, Calif.. When they landed at San Diego Airport and were marching down a corridor, they encountered a crowd spitting on them and throwing items at them. They kept their composure until their platoon sergeant got hit with something and when he turned away, they broke ranks and took care of the culprits.
In 1967, Bob had another incident with a crowd when marching down State Street in Chicago. With Vietnam veterans in wheel chairs in front of them, they all were booed.
At Camp Pendleton, during a training exercise, Bob was ordered by his “Butter Bar” (2nd lieutenant) to bring his squad into an area that hadn’t been cleared of mines or booby traps. Bob refused to obey the order until the area was cleared. The lieutenant proceeded anyway and set off a booby trap (a fake charge), which would have killed several in a real situation. Bob explained why he disobeyed the direct order. He was commended for his action and his gunnery sergeant even commented to the inspecting general that Bob was a good squad leader; the type that would lead his men and get them back, in one piece.
Bob fought forest fires in the hills surrounding Pendleton for a two-week period.
He completed his reserve duty in December 1968.
In 1966, Bob and Judy were married. They have three children, eight grandchildren, and three great grandchildren
He worked for Sears, Roebuck, and Company for 23 years, where he was manager of a warehouse and a store, in charge of 150 employees. He went to work for Home Depot, Geneva, for 22 years, where he still works.
Bob was a volunteer paid on-call fireman for 18 years in Chicago west suburban Berkeley. He eventually reached the rank of captain. He was the second oldest person to complete the para-medic training at Good Samaritan in Downers Grove.
He showed me his scrap book with the many articles, citations, thank you notes about his time as a fireman and para-medic. He delivered several babies in a variety of places, but his first delivery was the best when he delivered his own child at Elmhurst Hospital.
He has been a member of the DuPage Marine Corp League and Fox Valley Marine Corp League since 1998 and is a life member of each. Most recently, he has run the Marine Corp Birthday Ball for the last five years.
Clearly, Bob’s life, profoundly influenced by his Marine Service, reflects on that service: His leadership skills; his way of finding a way to get the job done; his firefighting experience; his sense of duty to the community; his refusal to accept anything, but the right way.
He is quick to acknowledge the Marine Corps’ contribution to his life’s successes. “I was a Harley-riding, d.a. haircut-wearing, camel-cigarettes-in-his-sleeve guy. I was heading for trouble. I just knew it. Then the Marines came along and made me a better man.”