Angeles. In 1948 Bob graduated from Brown Military Academy in San Diego, CA, by which time he had distinguished himself as a national debater. Bob was appointed by Representative Norris Poulson, CA, and entered West Point on July 1, 1948. He resigned on Jul 30, 1948, to attend the University of California for two years, but reentered West Point on Jul 5, 1950, with an appointment as an Honor Military School graduate. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Infantry on Jun 4, 1954, and graduated on Jun 8, 1954, with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Bob’s first assignment was at Ft. Benning, GA, where he completed the Infantry Basic Course, earned jump wings, and graduated from Ranger School. In the spring of 1955, Bob and 21 other classmates were assigned to the 33rd Infantry

Regiment in the Panama Canal Zone. Bob quickly displayed great skill in managing small units in jungle raids, patrols, and ambushes at a time when other junior officers in the regiment were getting lost in the jungle. Bob's jungle skills were so outstanding that he was selected in 1956 to be the Regimental Intelligence & Reconnaissance Platoon Leader, the premier position for an Infantry lieutenant. Not long after assuming this position, Bob was assigned the task of exploring options for extending the Inter-American Highway through the Darien Province of Panama to the Columbian Border. This required Bob and his small team to operate in the deep jungle and mountainous terrain for several months, resupplied only by aerial drops. Bob's mapping efforts were successful in locating and effectively describing the challenges of building such a highway. In the latter half of this reconnaissance, Bob was assisted by his classmate Dunc Beaumont. In addition to the reconnaissance and survey, Bob and his team developed and refined operational methods that would later be used in Vietnam. In 1957 and 1958, he served as a principal instructor at the Jungle Warfare Training Center.

From 1958-60, Bob was stationed with the 4th Infantry Division, Ft. Lewis, WA, where he served as order of battle and executive officer. While there he met  Mary Ann Russell and married her on Aug 12, 1960. In 1962, Bob and Mary Ann completed Spanish fluency training at the U.S. Language School, Presidio of Monterey, CA. Bob and Mary Ann then moved to Panama where Bob served as project officer for testing tropical equipment, including the modern jungle boot, in Operation Swamp Fox. In 1963, they moved to Bogotá, Columbia, where Bob worked with the Columbian Military. In 1964, Bob was assigned to the J-2, U.S. Southern Command serving in the Panama Canal Zone where he coordinated intelligence operations throughout South America. Their first child, Mark, was born there on May 29, 1966.

From 1967-68, Bob was deployed with the 9th Infantry Division to Vietnam where he served as an assistant G-2 and as an executive officer. In 1968, Bob returned to the U.S. and was stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC, with the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1969, Bob graduated from the Command & General Staff College and received a Master of Military Art and Science degree. From June of 1969 to June 1972, he served in the Middle East Desk, Operations Directorate, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, the Pentagon. Their second child, Lynne Shutters, was born in Arlington, VA, Nov 19, 1971. In 1972, Bob received a master’s in International Relations, Latin American Studies, from American University. In September 1972, Bob assumed command of a battalion in Vietnam training Cambodian units as American assets were transitioning out of theater. Bob held that command until March of 1973 when the unit was phased out. Upon his return to the States, Bob was promoted to Regular Army lieutenant colonel and deployed to Southern Command, Panama Canal Zone, where he worked in foreign relations in Central America.

The stress of his tours in Vietnam, his frequent family moves, and his extended time away from them led Bob to retire in 1975. Bob moved to Longbranch, WA, where he acquired real estate and broker’s licenses. In lieu of practicing in real estate Bob decided to operate a small farm and devote his time to his family. Bob became active in the Boy Scouts as a cub-master and then as a scoutmaster. He led his scout troop on 50-mile hikes through the Olympic Mountains and on 50-mile canoe trips on Puget Sound. Bob taught his scouts wilderness survival, camping, and mountaineering and inspired them in all aspects of strong character, including patriotism and the values of hard work, honesty, and loyalty. Throughout Bob’s years in retirement, he pursued his interests in gardening, astronomy, and history and shared these with his two children and nine grandchildren. He lost his wife Mary Ann in 2001 but continued to live on his farm. In 2009, his son, Mark, bought the farm and Bob lived out his remaining years with Mark and his family.

Bob died peacefully in his sleep on Aug 8, 2011, at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Gig Harbor after a brief struggle with cancer. He is deeply missed by his son, Mark, daughter, Lynne Shutters, and his grandchildren: Laura, Ami, Ian, Shane, Genevieve, Fiona, and Daniel Downen; Melanie and Kayla Shutters.