#VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Robert Brunckhorst

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Robert Brunckhorst. Robert served during the Vietnam War.

Robert Brunckhorst was born in Billings, Montana. He enlisted in the Navy in high school and went off to boot camp in June 1963. After boot camp, Robert went to Radarman “A” School Great Lakes, and on the first of May in 1964, he went to fleet. Robert worked in the Combat Information Center and manned all the radars and the scan equipment.

Robert and his fellow sailors were a close-knit group, and he looks back fondly on his time spend on the home ports, especially those that offered entertainment. As Robert recounted in an interview with the Veterans History Project, he managed a band that played at bars when they were in port. He would assemble other sailors who were musically inclined, and they would sing and play drums and guitars in ports like Manila Bay and Yakosuka.

Robert was in combat zone for 35 days in the South China Sea, which earned him the expeditionary medal.

After serving in the Navy for four years, Robert went on to work for Xerox, where he has worked for over 35 years. When he lived in Billings, Montana, Robert and his uncles became instrumental in chartering a VFW chapter. He now lives in Powell, Wyoming, and is a member of his local VFW.

Thank you for your service, Robert!

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? You’re in luck! VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much of the information as you can put together with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating for how to create the best submission.

Veterans History Project

This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.

Graphic created by Carl J. Valentino: Carl J. Valentino is a student at the University of Delaware with a Major in International Business and a Minor in Graphic Design.