MI, on Sep 16, 1932, to Carrie and
Carl Kaiser. This rural area in western Michigan is renowned for its
fishing and hunting sanctuaries plus access to the Great Lakes - the
inland seas of America. Bob happily spent his early years here. He
received his diploma from Baldwin High School in 1949 and worked as
a seaman for one year on the Great Lakes while pursuing a new goal -
entrance to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He
accomplished his goal the following summer when he received his
appointment to the Academy. His high school experience played an
important part in gaining that honor. Those four years saw his
natural leadership qualities honed to new heights in both academics
and sports activities at Baldwin High School. Bob was president of
the student body and lettered in football, basketball, and track.
Armed with these fine credentials he arrived at the Academy.
Bob was assigned to Company M of the
Second Regiment for his entire four years at West Point. This
Company enjoys a spirit of camaraderie that is unmatched in many
ways. Throughout the years, in addition to regular class reunions
for marked special anniversaries, the men of M-2 gather for
mini-reunions with wives and widows. Bob and his wife, Jane, were
always great supporters of those gatherings and brought their
special esprit de corps with them!
Bob was a core military man and served
our country with honor throughout his career. At the time of his
graduation and commissioning there was no Air Force Academy, so Bob
joined those fellow classmates who opted for a commission in the Air
Force with their West Point degree in engineering. As is true for
every graduate of the Military Academy he was commissioned as a
second lieutenant in the U.S. Armed Forces. At graduation Bob
embraced this new adventure which began with pilot training at Hondo
Air Force Base (AFB) and Laredo AFB in Texas. This training was
followed by Navigator School for Pilots from 1955–56. Bob was one of
a selected few to be assigned to units that flew bombers,
transports, and fighters. He flew the B-52 from 1956–65. He moved
his family through several assignments including Barksdale AFB in
Louisiana, Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota, and Sheppard AFB in Texas.
At one time Bob was named the youngest aircraft commander and the
youngest standardization evaluation pilot in Strategic Air Command.
He also flew eight 24-hour airborne alert missions during the Cuban
Missile Crisis. He served in Vietnam for one year flying transports
as a C-123 aircraft commander. After that he achieved his dream job.
He became an F-100 fighter pilot. His greatest thrill was flying the
F-100 “Super Saber” which was one of the “hottest” aircraft in use
at the time.
Bob had already demonstrated his
ability to pilot multiple aircraft when he was tapped for duty in
England. He received orders for assignment there in 1967 and
represented this nation in NATO exercises for two years. Bob was a
member of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing at Royal Air Force
Lakenheath and was justly proud of his squadron - the 492 Tactical
Fighter Squadron. This wing and its American presence of fighter
pilots brought a new mission and the first American presence to RAF
Lakenheath. He excelled in his assignment.
Hardship tours are part of a career
pattern and Bob served this nation in the Vietnam conflict at Tan
Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon. He was decorated with the Meritorious
Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross with four Oak Leaf
Clusters, and the Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters. Once again
Bob stood above the rest.
The family was assigned to Seoul,
Korea ,when tragedy struck - the fatal illness of Jane and Bob’s
older son, Robert. The tour was curtailed, and they returned home to
Randolph AFB in San Antonio to support the medical crisis. Young
Robert died in 1978, and the family moved to Clark Air Base in the
Philippines for Bob’s last assignment flying T-39’s.
No tribute to this military gentleman
would be complete without reference to his beloved wife - Jane
Gilley Kaiser - whom he married on Dec 28, 1957. She, his bride of
52 years, was at his side throughout the years of service. He is
survived by Jane and their children: Gregory A. Kaiser and Tracy
Kaiser Moreland. Bob retired from active duty in 1982 and turned to
the teaching profession for thirteen additional years, most of which
were spent in the middle school grades. He succeeded in any mission
assigned and served this nation with honor and distinction. His life
is a tapestry with the richness of achievement and a firm dedication
to Duty, Honor, and Country.