Veteran's History Project - Robert R. Balfour

Robert R. Balfour

U.S. Marine Corps

USMC Reserve

Nebraska National Guard

1953-1974

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project.

In 1953, Robert "Bob" Balfour worked in Omaha for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. He was 20.

At this point in his young life, he felt that it was his obligation to serve his country. As far as he was concerned, the best branch of the military to meet that obligation: the Marine Corps.

After passing the required physical examination and the mental testing, he was inducted and went to Parris Island Recruit Depot (MCRD) training facility in South Carolina.

Parris Island isn't found on tourist brochures. It isn't all that much like Paris, but it is kinda like an island. Most of those traveling there are not out tanning and enjoying an occasional adult beverage. Here, they train men and women to become Marines.

After getting the usual hair "styling," some new clothes, a place to eat and sleep, the training to become a Marine began. Like many, Bob noted that the drill instructors and NCOs had altered some of the words in the English language.

He mentioned that he and his fellow trainees were constantly being bitten by sand fleas. The drill instructors informed the young trainees that they were to let the sand fleas bite, after all, the trainees had eaten, right? It was their turn.

Here, the sergeants issued individual cloth sacks so that the trainees could put all their personal items inside (the sacks) and would retrieve them when they were released from training. Bob complied with all that except he refused to take off his wedding ring, he would keep that.

This caused somewhat of an uproar, something against the tide. After talking it over – in a heated discussion – he was allowed to keep it on.

In this initial preparation, Bob was 21 and married – in a somewhat different status than the others. He was accused of being a plant by the higher HQS to see if the Parris Island trainers were doing things right? For a while, things were a little more difficult than they should have been.

Bob was adept with rifle – a marksman. He knew how to handle the M-1 rifle and the M-14 rifle as good if not better than the others in his company.

Soon, his job was to work with the less gifted/less fortunate trainees. He called it "snap in" training. He provided individual training in the steady-hold factors of rifle marksmanship: developing sight alignment, sight picture, breathing and trigger control so that when all elements were straight, the shot would "snap in."

His drill instructor was Sgt. Patrowski and the assistant was Cpl. Stotter. Patrowski was a veteran of the Korean conflict.

By the end of boot camp, the pay was $101.50 per month. He completed camp by complying with everything he was told to do. The ones that didn't usually didn't last too long.

His next destination in the training process was at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Here, he continued his infantryman skills for a shorter period of time when the U.S.M.C. learned that since he already had electronic training and experience, they quickly placed him as a TV/radio repairman.

He returned to Parris Island in a different status this time.

One of his tasks to work on was to provide the audio-visual network for a high visibility trial that took place at Parris Island. One of the attendees at the trial was Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, who earned more decorations than any Marine in history. Bob got a chance to shake the hero's hand and visit for a short while. After seeing the milk dispensers in the dining facility, Puller told Bob "they should be taken out and replaced with beer kegs."

Bob was later sent to the Marine Corps Logistics Depot near Barstow, Calif. Here, he worked on radar repair and modifications. He was promoted to the position of Tank Turret Mechanic, then Chief of Tank Turret Maintenance. The main tank they worked on was the M48 Sheridan.

While at this facility, Bob and his wife, Carrie, lived off base and on an alfalfa ranch near Newberry, Calif. Bob was also a ranch hand helping a custom hay cutter in his off hours. He finished the rest of his enlistment at MCLD.

Bob left the Active Duty assignment in August 1958.

There was no formation, he just signed out. He and Carrie drove back to Nebraska in their blue and white 1956 Chevrolet 4-door.

Within the month of his getting off active duty, he rejoined the USMC Reserve unit in Omaha. This was a 75mm anti-aircraft Battery. Bob was on the same flight in a "flying boxcar" with fellow-Marine Bill Garber. The plane was moving from Omaha to California and stopped enroute at Peterson Air Base near Colorado Springs, Colo.

The C119 was fueled up. The crew and passengers loaded. The plane began to taxi and take off. Just after "wheels up" the plane lost power and re-landed, without the use of its landing gear. Lots of smoke and sparks and noise. Disaster loomed heavily.

When the skidding stopped, the crew chief dropped the rear door and told the Marines and crew to "start running and don't stop!" In time, they were safe and ready for the next plane to take them onward. He served in the Omaha unit until 1968.

His civilian employer decided that it was important for him to move to Sidney.

Once in Sidney, Bob joined the Nebraska National Guard and drilled with the Sidney unit. This was an artillery unit. He was in the Guard for six years, reaching the rank of Sergeant First Class. In all, he served over his country over 20 years. Seven members of his immediate family are in the military branches as well.

Bob is a member of the Disabled American Veterans. Years of artillery and anti-aircraft guns took their toll on this Marine's hearing.

Each year, Bob and his family operate a fireworks stand situated just south of the bowling alley. They have been in business there for 42 years! Remember this good, always-faithful Marine each July when you and your families are buying fireworks.