Meet Bob Atkins, Retired U.S. Army Aviation Corps Specialist, 5th Class

 

For Veterans Day this November, JKV honors all 170+ retired military residents.  Here is one Veteran resident’s story and why he loves where he lives.  

For the past two years, Bob Atkins and his wife Karen have made JKV their home. Since first arriving, Bob has been sought out to share his story with the community because he saved many lives in Vietnam.

Bob knew he was headed to Vietnam, so he joined the Army Aviation Corps. “I decided I’d rather fly over the jungle rather than walk through it,” he said. Bob attended helicopter training school in Alabama and was assigned as the crew chief on a rescue-and-recovery helicopter in Vietnam during 1967-68.

“We had just one mission,” Bob said, “to rescue the crew if a U.S. helicopter went down. We would sit on the outskirts of the combat zones. If a U.S. helicopter went down, we went in immediately to rescue the crew. Sometimes we got air support, and sometimes we didn’t. We’d go in anyway because there were lives on the line.”

As crew chief, Bob was responsible for all maintenance to be able to keep his helicopter in the air at all times. It wasn’t unusual for him to return to base in a helicopter with bullet holes through the tail boom or even a rotor blade. Ignoring Army protocols, Bob would use heavy duct tape to patch the holes and secure the rotors. “We were never down for more than one day,” he said. In addition to his maintenance responsibilities, Bob also manned one of the two machine guns on board from his open-door seat on the helicopter.

 

 

 

Even after such dedicated service, Bob’s return home was a nightmare. When his plane landed in California, the soldiers on board were told to change into civilian clothes and not wear their uniforms off the plane so they wouldn’t be recognized. It didn’t work. “People could tell we were soldiers because we were still wearing our combat boots. We had rocks thrown at us. People spit at us; they called us names. It was terrible and completely unexpected,” he said.

Bob’s life post-service was fulfilling, as he and his wife Karen raised a son as he made a successful career as in manufacturing until he retired.

Two things helped Bob eventually embrace being a Vietnam veteran. First, as a vet, he used the G.I. Bill to fund his college education and embark on a successful, rewarding career. Second, he has been involved in the “Honor Flight” for the past 10 years. The Honor Flight is a free, all-expense-paid trip that transports U.S. military veterans to Washington, DC, giving them a chance to visit memorials built in their honor. “It’s very rewarding to me because I get to meet a lot of veterans and be with them all day,” Bob said. “It’s a lot of fun and at the same time very meaningful for all of the volunteers as well as the veterans.”

Bob says about living at JKV, “Karen and I were looking for a place that provided long-term healthcare, and what we found at JKV is the perfect solution. We were very impressed with all the information, tours, and videos, but it really wasn’t until we actually moved in that we discovered the activities, amenities, and benefits. The social interaction is truly amazing, and the activities planned by our Life Enrichment department are outstanding in every way. There are so many wonderful activities that we can’t do them all… but we try! There are so many advantages to living here…the Aquatic Complex, the Fitness Center, the many libraries, the entertainment activities, the RAS, and the wood shop. And we feel safe living here – we definitely feel we live in a secure community.”

We are honored that Bob and his wife Karen have chosen to make John Knox Village in Pompano Beach their home. 

 

 

John Knox Village (JKV)

For almost 60 years, JKV has set the bar when it comes to delivering an all-inclusive resort lifestyle designed for living life to the fullest at each stage of retirement. JKV emphasizes fitness and overall well-being with world-class programming, state-of-the-art amenities, healthy and delicious dining, and much more. Residents are entitled to unlimited use of healthcare services and 24/7 healthcare professionals on campus. There are no time or financial limits on the long-term care benefits that residents receive, regardless of the level of care required. Simply put, a life plan agreement at JKV provides a fiscal safety net with an unparalleled community geared to a wide range of needs, whatever the road ahead brings.

Want to learn more about what John Knox Village has to offer? Contact us today or call (954) 783-4040 to take a tour, or for a no-pressure conversation with one of our Life Plan Consultants.