Robert Barzelogna was the son of Peter B. Barzelogna (an Italian Army World War I Veteran, b 2-16-1898, d 1-5-1976) and Anna G. Spencer Barzelogna (b 10-11-1913, d 4-13-1991). After his family left Big Ridge, Virginia while he was still in childhood, he grew up in Detroit, Michigan. Robert's siblings included one older brother that died of pnuemonia in childhood that he barely remembered, Jack W. Barzelogna (a USAF Cold War/ Cuban Missile Crisis Veteran, b 3-4-1937, d 10-26-1997), Richard D. Barzelogna (a Teamster Vice President, b 6-7-1938, d 1-2015) and Barbara A. Barzelogna Humphrey (b 9-30-1940). He enlisted in the US Marine Corps Reserve in 1953, attained the rank of Private First Class, and subsequently enlisted in the US Air Force as a Jet Engine Mechanic in 1954, served 21 years and retired as a Technical Sergeant. His combat service included the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War (serving at Phu Cat Air Force Base, 1968-1969, during the worst year of the entire War). Robert Barzelogna's military decorations included the Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal with 1 knotted bronze rope, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with 1 bronze service star, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 4 bronze service stars, Vietnam Service Medal with '60 scroll, Army/ Air Force Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and 1 oak leaf cluster, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Medal with Palm Device, Air Force Small Arms Expert Ribbon, Air Force Longivity Ribbon with 2 oak leaf clusters, Army Expert Marksmanship Badge (rifle), Marine Corps Rifle Expert Qualification Badge and the Marine Corps Pistol Marksman Qualification Badge. His honesty within the military earned him the nickname, "Straight Arrow Barz" from his comrades. On June 9, 1956, he married Sunny Joan Griffin and remained married to her for 58 years. She proved to be the love of his life and he often told me she was the greatest blessing God had ever given him and it was a pity that few men could be as blessed as he by having a wife as wonderful as Mom to love and with whom to travel through life. His children included Robert D. Barzelogna (USAF Master Sergeant, retired; Persian Gulf War/ Bosnia/ GWOT Veteran) and Richard S. Barzelogna (USMCR Veteran, USAR Lieutenant Colonel, retired; Grenada/ El Salvador/ Persian Gulf War/ Bosnia/ GWOT Veteran), who unsurprisingly, grew to become warriors like him. He also often described Keith E. Schell (US Army paratrooper veteran, USAFR Senior Master Sergeant, retired) as his 3rd "wayward son." He subsequently served 17 years as the Flagler County Veterans Service Officer/ Civil Defense Director, which proved to be a challenging job with great pressure and responsibility, before retiring in 1995. During that time, he witnessed a 3 ton air conditioning unit snatched off the ground and deposited in a tree by a tornado, watched the Flagler Beach pier get swept out to sea by the wrath of Hurricane Hugo, drove down I95 when it became a tunnel of flame as a horrendous wildfire jumped I95 into Palm Coast and destroyed over half of the city, and almost lost his right leg to a firetruck. All of these strengthened his belief and faith in God. He was a Past Post Commander/ Life Member of VFW Post 5213, Past Chapter Commander/ Life Member of DAV "Jim Bowe" Chapter 86, Life member of the American Legion, a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, and Past Worshipful Master of the Masonic Blue Lodge 200 (Bunnell, Florida). He loved history, reading, "playing the stock market," children, drinking beer, sharing war stories with his VFW Comrades, his 1966 VW Beetle, teasing people with a sense of humor, and dogs. He also loved discussing history, politics and religion with his VFW Comrades, tremendously enjoyed their monthly meetings, and had the strongest grip I've ever encountered. He was a stalwart Rocky Marciano fan who faithfully followed his career and indicated that most of the champions who followed the Rock were loud mouthed clowns that weren't fit to carry his jock. Dad was surprised that Iron Mike Tyson failed to break Marciano's record and indicated Tyson submarined himself by letting a crook (Don King) in his corner. In athletics, he tried boxing but could not compete beyond State level because of his sight limitations, but excelled in Handball (winning the city championship of Detroit), league bowling (winning an individual League Runner-up trophy and a team championship trophy) and pingpong (winning the base championship of Luke Air Force Base, Arizona). His hands were like a vice made of flesh, bone and blood. Robert Barzelogna had a reputation for being a stalwart, highly dependable friend and a tenacious, formidible enemy. He contracted whooping cough in early childhood and survived it only to have it severely cross his eyes and nearly cost him his sight. He underwent 4 eye operations (the first at age 4 and the last at age 16), and had bad vision the rest of his life. He dearly loved his Family and sacrificed everything in his power for his Family during his long, remarkable life of service to others. Two of his neices (Kimberle A. Barzelogna Weeks and Jacque M. Barzelogna Thomas) were very special to him and comforted him greatly during the final few months of his life. On the rare occasion that he was proven wrong, frustrated or vexed, he would often shake his head sadly and say "Poor Ol' Bob," causing most present to laugh. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2013 (although he was showing signs of it as early as summer 2012), had a strong will to live and fought it hard. However, it spred and 2 tumors were located in his brain during June 2014, subsequently causing his death on June 13, 2014 in the Stuart F. Meyer Hospice Center. I knew him to be a highly honorable, dedicated, supremely confident, outgoing and strong willed man. He was a devout protestant, though seldomn attended church other than military chapels, and his faith was extremely strong. I came to believe that God created him without a reverse gear, and I witnessed him personally destroy several self-serving, unprincipled politicians and bureaucrats that were foolish enough to screw with him. Very few men could measure up to Bob Barzelogna. He was his Father's Son in every sense of the word. God bless you, Dad. You are, have been, and will always be my Hero. Rest in Peace, Sir.

CAUSE OF DEATH: Lung/ Brain Cancer

LENGTH OF LIFE: 79 Years, 4 Months, 16 Days.

WHAT IS A VETERAN?
A 'veteran' - whether active duty,
discharged, retired, or reserve -
is someone who, at one point in their
life, wrote a blank check made payable
to 'The United States of America,' for
an amount of 'up to, and including their
life.'
That is honor, and there are way too many
people in this country today, who no longer
understand that fact.

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