PART 1 OF 2 PARTSThe family of LTC Robert Friend has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to be present to honor this Hero for his service to his country. It will be our privilege to do so.
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Friend was one of the last surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen, a famed group of African-American military pilots who fought the Axis Powers in World War II.
LTC Friend was born in Columbia, South Carolina, on February 29, 1920 and passed away June 21, 2019. He always had a desire to fly, and so after high school he took aviation lessons at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and was ready to join when the Army lifted a ban on African-American pilots in 1941. The Army would then form an all African-American squadron based in Tuskegee, Alabama, who would later be known as the Tuskegee Airmen. LTC Friend flew 142 combat missions during World War II. Throughout the war, LTC Friend flew in P-47 and P-51 planes while providing support for heavy bombers.
After WWII, LTC Friend would go on to serve in the Korean and Vietnam wars and graduated from the Air Force Institution of Technology. In all, he spent 28 years in the military. He was the Recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal (2007); Distinguished Flying Cross, Presidential Unit Citation, Bronze Star with Flying Cross; 3 Distinguished Service Medals, and an Air Medal. He retired from the Air Force in 1972.
LTC Friend spoke out about his involvement in the Air Force’s 20-year study into UFOs, Project Blue Book, and told the Huffington Post that he vouched for more investigations into the events, even if he didn’t believe Earth had been visited by extraterrestrials.
During his career, LTC Friend obtained a degree in Astro Physics under the Air Force Institute of Technology and received advanced management degrees from UCLA Graduate Business School and the US Air Force Program Management Course, Special Weapons School and Air War College.
He is survived by two children from his first marriage, Thelma Hoffman and Robert Jr.; three children from his second marriage, Michael, Debra Carter and Dana Friend; a daughter from his third marriage, Karen Crumlich; an adopted daughter, Clara Ann Browning, from his third wife’s previous marriage; 18 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren.
His son Darryl, from his second marriage, died in 2002 while on active duty in the military.
The family has requested an accompaniment from the mortuary in Corona Del Mar to the Palm Springs Air Museum where his viewing and military honors will be rendered.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this American Hero. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the Hero from the mortuary to the Palm Springs Air Museum. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the Air Museum, we will meet you there.
PART 1 Time Table for Friday, 05 July, 2019:1000 - Stage at Pacific View Memorial Park, 3500 Pacific View Dr, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625
https://goo.gl/maps/tAwWNDLzHLYms6iW71015 - Mission Briefing
1030 - Flag Line for dignified transfer of Hero to coach
1100 - KSU to Palm Springs Air Museum, 745 N Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, CA
https://goo.gl/maps/mYvrJwPefYcnMtTB9NOTE: It's approx 106 Miles from the mortuary to the Palm Springs Air Museum. Please be fully fueled for the trip.
R/C Tom Barry
So Cal PGR Ride Captainadmin@armobility.com
(714) 206-1227
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
