Who was SFC Robert H. Yancey Sr.?

Bob was first and foremost a veteran and a patriot. Drafted into the Navy at age 18, Bob served in a segregated Navy in which the only duties open to him were that of steward or cook. In the event of an attack, however, Bob was "permitted" to man an anti-aircraft gun to defend the ship and his shipmates. Bob and his shipmates survived Kamikaze attacks and participated in the invasions of the Philippines and Okinawa. After the war Bob served in Puerto Rico handling ammunition left from the war.

Separating from the Navy in 1947 Bob returned to civilian life. In June 1950, the North invaded South Korea and Bob was alerted he was to be recalled to the Navy. having had his fill of the sea, Bob joined the Army. After eight weeks of basic training, Bob joined an Infantry Regiment in defense of the Pusan Perimeter. Eventually Bob would endure the Korean winters and survive Chinese mass attacks. In the fighting that occurred in the withdrawal from the Yalu River, Bob's unit lost more than one third of its men. As a result of his injuries from frostbite Bob was removed from combat. Those injuries would plague him for the rest of his life.

After assignments in the United States and Germany, Bob was sent to Vietnam where he served for two years in a Medical Service Unit and was responsible for transporting the wounded from the battlefields to the hospitals. Bob was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam.

Bob retired from the army in 1971 and focused on completing his education and on a career with the New Jersey Department of Corrections.

Recognizing the needs of our homeless and at-risk veterans, Bob was a founding member of Stand Down of South Jersey in 1996. Bob participated in every aspect of Stand Down activities. When something needed to be done it was Bob who first volunteered. He was passionate in his concern for his brother veterans.

See below for his Veterans Interview