CONTINUING TO SERVE
New AMVETS Post 11 Commander enjoys helping others
CMDR. ROBERT HALL SHOWS OFF COATS DONATED FOR VETERANS.
Robert Hall is the new commander of the AMVETS Post 11, after Gayla Laufenberg recently retired.
Originally from North Carolina, Hall was a 17-year-old boy who had spent his young life on a farm out in the woods. He visited the recruitment office and even though he had not finished high school, he joined the United States Army. Basic training took place at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
Hall intended to serve in Vietnam in maintenance, but the Army had other plans. He was sent to Germany. While in Frankfurt, he was able to finish high school and get his graduate diploma.
He worked his way up through the ranks, including an 11 year process to become an E7. Eventually he became a Warrant Officer.“ Then in‘ 75, I took a break and I went back in the field artillery as a missile crewman. Then I became a drill sergeant,” Hall said. He spent 21 years in the service.
Becoming a Warrant Officer was one experience that deeply affected Hall.
“ Not bad for a kid that didn’ t graduate high school. Right? And that’ s the beauty of the military too. If you apply yourself, you can go places and do things. The Army considered me the same as if I had a college degree.”
His assignments eventually landed him in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. That’ s where he spent many years as a drill sergeant. He was shuttled back and forth between Fort Sill and Germany.
“ But I spent a lot of my time in places like White Sands, New Mexico, at the missile range,” he said. He also said at the range in Crete, too.
He’ s been at the AMVETS for four years, and was 3rd Vice Commander for a year. After getting out of the military, he eventually went to work at the Veteran’ s Affairs center at Fort Sill, filing disability claims. He got a year’ s experience and was paid for his efforts. Now he does the same thing at the local AMVETS Post 11.
And why? He has found it rewarding to be able to help others.“ Being able to improve people’ s lives. When they break down in front of you crying because you changed their lives so much, that’ s pretty powerful stuff,” Hall said.
He and others are available 10 a. m. to noon, Monday and Friday each week.
AMVETS Post 11 is open 10 a. m. to noon, Monday and Friday, or you can call 580- 786-4865.
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