Hearing a Veteran speak out on his story for National Salute to Veteran Patients Week

PERRYVILLE, Mo. (KBSI) – This week is dedicated as National Salute to Veteran Patients Week and today a Veteran who served in the Navy for 23 years tells his story. 

“I’d do it again if I was able,” said Eisenhauer.

Robert Eisenhauer served as an active member in the military for over 23 years. He started his time when he was a freshman in college, he knew then that he wanted to enlist in the Naval Reserve. 

“I was aboard ship. I was aboard an ammunition ship that served off the coast of Vietnam. We provided bombs and rockets and other munitions to other combatant ships. Seeing a lot of bombs passed between us who were there. We were in a combat zone, so we drew combat pay, but I never set foot on ground,” said Eisenhauer.

Eisenhauer was then transferred from the Engineering Department because he took disability from heat exhaustion and could not perform his duties. However, that didn’t stop him from staying in the reserves in a different role which then allowed him to retire after a total of 23 years. 

During those 23 years, Eisenhauer remembers this specific Christmas he will never forget.

“My Christmas that I spent off the coast of Vietnam is one of my best, most memorable Christmases. Because on Christmas Eve, we performed what we called breaking out. We were bringing from down in our halls. We were bringing munitions, which in this case were bombs. Because up on deck and arranging them for a replenishment operation early Christmas morning, we had an aircraft carrier alongside. A couple of my men came to me and one didn’t know if they could go and strum. A few turned on their guitars on the after deck, where they were supposed to be quiet about the decks and after tabs. I went to the executive officer. He gave us permission. Yeah, they could do that. Before I turned in. I went back to see if they were still playing, and I found the after decks were packed with people, had thought that anybody was in Iraq. Everybody was probably back there except those that were on watch,” explained Eisenhauer. 

All in all, Eisenhauer appreciates when people recognize the time and effort he spent all these years fighting for his country. 

It means a lot to him now because back then feelings were different. 

“They get out of their car and come over and thank me for my service. And, it feels good to know, because in the 60s, when we came back from Vietnam, we were not welcomed,” said Eisenhauer.

Eisenhauer volunteers at the James Eddleman Military Museum where if you ask him, he sayd he’s more than happy to share his story.