<p><em>Robert Allan “Bob” Stewart</em> was born in Washington, DC, the second son of Chauncey Burton Stewart and Ethel Belle Thrush Stewart. Brothers Walter, Donald (USMA 1962), and Howard completed the family.<br />Bob grew up in the Takoma Park area of Washington, where during his youth he was in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, and the Civil Air Patrol. He graduated from Calvin Coolidge High School in June 1949, then attended the George Washington University for a year.<br />Bob then enlisted in the Army (along with his brother Walter) and, following basic training at Camp Pickett, VA, was assigned to Company K, 169th Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division, attaining the rank of private first class. He then applied for and was assigned to the USMA Preparatory School at Stewart Air Force Base, NY. He entered West Point with the Class of 1956 on a Regular Army competitive appointment.<br />As a cadet in Company K-1, Bob wrestled plebe year, was on the Class Committee and in the Forum, and belonged to the Fishing, Handball, Pistol, Spanish, and Ski clubs. As a First Classman he was a cadet lieutenant. <br />Wrote his classmates in the <em>Howitzer</em>, the West Point yearbook, “Bob came from a long line of civilians into a System which offered few obstacles for him. Though he spent more time on his roommates’ academics than his own, he easily earned his Stars every year. After what was for him a four year vacation, he is ready to put on those Golden Bars and start to work.”<br />Bob’s cadet roommate later recalled how on the first night of Beast Barracks Bob had said, “I am going to graduate as first man in the class.” Four years later he made good on that ambitious prophesy, as he did indeed wear the stars of a Distinguished Cadet every year, finishing first in the class on the Graduation Order of Merit List and being the first man to step up and receive his diploma from Secretary of the Army Wilber Brucker.<br />Upon graduation Bob was commissioned in the Air Force. His initial pilot training took place at Marana Air Base, AZ and Webb Air Force Base, TX. For his first operational assignment he was then sent to Perrin AFB, also in Texas, where he flew the F-86D/L. After a year at that base he was transferred to Richards-Gebaur AFB in Missouri, flying the F-102A in the 326th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. <br />In 1958 Bob met and quickly married Yvonne Gretel Weiss. They had met during his assignment to Perrin AFB near Texarkana, TX. Together they had a son they named Robert Allan Stewart Jr. and daughters Lisa and Karen. Later there were eight grandchildren.<br />Next came civil schooling as Bob attended the University of Maryland during 1960-62, earning a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He then taught at the Air Force Academy in the Department of Mechanics for the next four years and was awarded an Air Force Commendation Medal that cited his inspirational leadership.<br />Returning to the operational force, Bob went to McConnell AFB in Kansas, joining the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing to fly the F-105D. After a year there Bob went to war. Still flying the F-105, this time the E model, he was assigned to the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Royal Thai Air Base in Thailand.<br />Bob was selected to be one of 16 pilots in the newly formed “Ryan’s Raiders,” whose mission would be to conduct night interdiction attacks in North Vietnam. En route to Thailand he went TDY to Yokota Air Base in Japan to train for the night strike mission.<br />Bob was crewed with Pete Pitman. A mission on May 6, 1967 earned him a Silver Star, the citation describing “a dangerous night radar attack against a major railroad yard in North Vietnam. Despite adverse weather and intense hostile ground fire, he delivered his ordnance on target and successfully evaded further fire using a low altitude return to safety.”<br />On May 12, 1967, while on his 14th aerial combat mission over North Vietnam, Bob had the mission of attacking a target in the vicinity of what was known as Ron Ferry. With call sign Crow 01 he departed Korat at 1800 hours local time, rendezvoused with a tanker and refueled en route, then began his descent toward the target area. At 1908 hours friendly radar contact was lost due to the terrain and the planned attack altitude. When Crow 01 did not return at the expected 2050 hours, checks were made of all the potential divert bases. No trace of him could be found. Bob was initially declared missing in action, then subsequently (as of April 3, 1978) declared dead. No substantive information as to his fate was ever discovered.<br />Bob was posthumously awarded an Air Medal and the Purple Heart, in addition to the Silver Star previously received, and promoted to full colonel. And of course he had, a souvenir of his enlisted service, the Good Conduct Medal.<br />Later a USNA flying school classmate of Bob’s (who wishes to remain anonymous) created a million dollar scholarship in Bob’s name for veterans studying at the University of Maryland (where Bob got his master’s degree). Said that generous friend, remembering Bob, “He wasn’t just smart, he had enormous strength of character and was as tough physically as anyone I’ve ever known.”<br />Bob Stewart, brilliant, brave, and universally admired, was taken from us far too soon. May he rest in peace.<br /><em>— Classmates and Family</em></p>