Jefferson County May Veteran of the Month: Robert Kotas

FROM THE JEFFERESON COUNTY VETERAN'S SERVICE OFFICE:

Robert Kotas grew up in Davenport, Nebraska and graduated from Davenport High School. Afterwards, Robert enlisted in the U.S. Army at the Grand Island Recruitment Center on January 7, 1949. Robert then rode with the recruiter to Fort Riley, KS and went by troop train to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas for basic training.

Kotas learned quickly the troop train was not a smooth way to travel- “You had to make sure you had a pillow between your head and the bunkbed headboard!”

The basic training at Camp Chaffee was tough-going like WWII training.

After basic training, Robert was sent to Fort Bliss, Texas to start the 79th 120 AAA Gun Battalion.

After all training was completed on the gun operation, they moved the whole battalion to Fort Custer, Michigan. Serving as a Sergeant First Class Cadre, he was an instructor on basic operations. “Our mission was to protect our country”.

When the Korean Conflict got going, the Battalion was then moved to Chicago, IL. The guns were placed around the perimeter of Chicago for protection from the Korean bombers.

While Robert was in Chicago, he was transferred to the Headquarters Battery of the 45th AAA Brigade as the Operations Sergeant. Robert stayed in that position until his discharge from the Army on January 6, 1953.

Robert never got called into Korea, and when asked to reenlist and become a Master Sargent, he stated that he would only reenlist if the Colonel could he make the promise he would not go to Korea. The Colonel couldn’t make that promise.

Robert has resided in Fairbury for the past several years. He once owned the Bob’s Conoco Gas Station on 5th street.

Robert has three children, seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. The great-grandkids range in age from one month to 21 years old.