A salute to the fallen Robert "Bob" Harper USAF

[Dr Charles Forbin]

I am saddened to announce the passing of one of our members. On Sunday, 16 May at 5:17pm Robert “Bob” Harper, TSgt (Ret) passed away from a heart attack. He will be laid to rest Saturday May 22, 2010 at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood Illinois. If you can get there please do. Robert "Bob" Harper was a member of the USAF and served as an ETAC. In English, he was the guy who snuck into another country a week ahead of time and told our guys where to bomb without hitting civilians. Some of the members of the list knew him personally. For those of you who didn't, he was a fine man, a fine soldier and a wise mentor. Bob and I became friends when he sent me a fan letter asking where I'd come up with one of my story ideas. It happened to involve military operations and under normal circumstances I'd have whipped out my press card and told him to get lost. Bob however was writing as a FAN..and not a fed :-) I gave him my reference list and we made arrangements to meet for dinner when he came to California. I had a great time and after meeting with him, decided that he should be immortalized in the Diaries. Thus was R.J. Preston USAF Special Ops born. His adventures in the Diaries were based on a lot of his reality seasoned with my imagination. He knew Bedouins and Arab Princes, defused bombs, didn't deal kindly with the willfully obtuse, and was a true patriot. Not a Tea Party Patriot, but a man who chose to serve his country to defend the right of everyone to speak loudly and look stupid if that's what they wanted. We were opposites politically in terms of party, and had many hours of fun debating but always with respect for the viewpoint of the other side. He spent a weekend with Mistress Minx and had a wonderful time in her house with her and her animals on one of his visits. As a warrior, he has gone to Valhalla ..and I hope he never gets tired of mead and Valkyries. To his wife... my condolences. He will be missed by all who knew him but not more than you will miss him. Take a moment to raise a glass in his memory. The toast is "Absent Friends" Dr Forbin

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[Michelle Montbertrand]

I don’t know if you receive the Diaries group that Doc does. If you don’t, here’s his write up about Bob, commemorating him. I thought you’d want to see it.

[Chrissy Lathrop]

My heart lies so heavy in me right now.
 
While Bob was in Kuwait, he went and found my husband, Pete.
 
I have no words to express my deep sadness at his passing.
 

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Date: Fri, 21 May 2010 07:04:30 -0400
Subject: Re: A salute to the fallen Robert "Bob" Harper USAF
From: mvm...@earthlink.net
To: diaries-...@googlegroups.com

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[Michelle Montbertrand]

Sorry everyone... I meant to do a forward for the last message I sent and just realized I replied to it publically, instead. It was more personal than I intended to share.

Chrissy, your story exemplifies everything that he stood for. My heart, too, is heavy... not just for the loss of Bob, who played a significant role in my life and shared so much of his radiant beauty with me, but for his wife.

Words have left me. I hope he is doing well in the next world.

[Morgan M]

=== Hear, hear!   We all end in the ocean/ We all start in the streams We're all carried along/ By the river of dreams. ___ Billy Joel Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost. ___ Neil Gaiman --- On Thu, 5/20/10, Dr Charles Forbin <cforbi...@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Dr Charles Forbin <cforbi...@yahoo.com> Subject: A salute to the fallen Robert "Bob" Harper USAF To: "Ayesha" <Diaries-...@googlegroups.com> Date: Thursday, May 20, 2010, 11:16 PM

I am saddened to announce the passing of one of our members.

....

Take a moment to raise a glass in his memory. The toast is "Absent Friends" Dr Forbin

[arashikami]

I am sorry to hear of his passing....

we are made less by his loss, but made stronger by honoring his
memory....

Rob

[Mistress Maihem]

Rest In Peace, Bob. Our friendship was special.

MzM x