November 2022 Veteran of the Month – Robert Provart
Robert “Bob” Provart was born at home on the family farm near the small town of Tamaroa, IL. During High School, Bob had a conversation with his HS principal who asked, “Bob, what is it you want to do?” Bob answered, “I want to fly.” The principal then told Bob that he needed to go to Southern Illinois University (SIU), join ROTC, get his private pilot’s license and be commissioned as an Officer in the United States Air Force upon graduation. Bob went home and told his parents he thought he would “give college a try.” After classes began, he told them about his plan to join ROTC & the Air Force. Just as planned, after graduating from the ROTC Program and receiving his Bachelors (BS) degree from SIU, he was commissioned as an officer in March of 1960 in the Air Force. He was the first in his family to join the Air Force and the first to be commissioned as an officer in any branch of the military.
Bob spent his time in the Air Force as a B-52 Navigator/Bombardier in the Strategic Air Command (SAC). He was on a combat crew for 10 years, which included three combat tours and 209 combat missions over Southeast Asia. After a decade in the air, bob became an instructor for B-52 crew qualifications. Next, he was the Wing Executive Officer for General Cody, the Wing Commander of Castle Air Force Base (AFB) in Atwater, CA. He was then given the role of Combat Crew Flight Scheduling Officer. From there he was transferred to March AFB in Riverside, CA, 15th Air Force, where he was responsible for overseeing the scheduling of all USAF SAC aircraft flights west of the Mississippi River. Next, he transferred to SAC Headquarters in Omaha, NE. He was the Chief of Command Briefings for three years. He briefed high ranking members of the military, congress members, foreign leaders and a U.S. president.
Bob has always been one to give back or pay it forward. He was instrumental in the development of educational seminars. Bob and members of his Command Briefing team educated students at: US Air Force Academy, US Air Force Institute of Technology, Navy War College and University of Nebraska-Omaha. In his last year, he served as the SAC Liaison Officer over RED FLAG training exercises that were conducted from Nellis AFB, Las Vegas NV. Although he was not assigned to a crew during his last 10 years, he continued to fly regularly to remain current in a B-52.
Bob married his wife Patricia (Pat) just before beginning his active-duty service and, following a honeymoon, the couple moved to their first base in June 1960. In the next eight years, the family moved to nine different bases and added three children to their ranks: Michelle in 1962 in Sacramento, CA, Celeste in 1964 in Abilene, TX, and Mark in 1969 in Springfield, MA. During Bob’s three tours in Vietnam, the family stayed stateside in Massachusetts. There were three more moves before the final one to Omaha, NE for a total of 12 bases in 20 years.
Bob was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and several air medals multiple times. While on active duty, Bob received a Master of Business Administration from Golden Gate University and completed numerous Air Force Schools, the equivalent of a second master’s degree. His career in the USAF impacted his life in many ways. While on active duty, he had the opportunity to work alongside numerous generals and even met one of our US Presidents. Bob retired as a Lieutenant Colonel at SAC Headquarters, Offutt AFB, Omaha, NE after 20 years of active duty.
After his retirement from the USAF, he worked with several companies in various roles until his full retirement. Bob remains an active veteran. Bob continues to pay it forward as he serves in the Loudon County Veterans Honor Guard. They provide honors for deceased veterans funerals. He has also enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow veterans in the Tellico Village Retired Military Club, both the Loudon County and Tellico Village VFW, and the American Legion.
In 1988, Bob and Pat came to TN for the birth of a Grandchild. At that time, they toured Tellico Village (TV) and decided to make it their next (and forever) home. He and his wife found a lot and started building their dream house. In March 1990, just shy of 30 years of marriage and after 15 other addresses, Chatuga Way became their permanent address and home. Bob remains the husband to one, father of three, grandfather of eight, great grandfather of two, and friend to many.
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