The Grandson of Robert Patrick Farner has requested the accompaniment of this Hero on his final journey. It is our honor and privilege to do so.
Robert was born 17 March 1923 in Hastings, Nebraska. As a young man he learned to live off the land.
At 16 years of age Robert jumped a train and enlisted in the Marines in 1939 after lying about his age. His first duty station was in China and then in the Philippines when WWII broke out. He was sent to the island of Corregidor. It was on 5 May 1942 during an enemy bombardment that he received his Silver Star and was also awarded his first Purple Heart.
Corregidor soon fell to the Japanese and Robert became a POW for three and a half years. Robert suffered many beatings at the hands of the Japanese but never wavered in his will to survive. At one of the camps, as they were called, he and a fellow Marine attempted to retrieve some Papayas and were caught. He was beaten with a metal rod with his arms behind his back breaking his arms and injuring his back. This was on 10 December 1942 and his second Purple Heart. Robert did not receive his Purple Hearts until about 2019 at a ceremony on Camp Pendleton because records were misplaced for all those years until they were finally recovered.
Robert was in a convoy or transfer as a POW to Japan and he saw the ship ahead of him torpedoed, he later met the Commander of the submarine who told him his ship was only spared because it was too slow and rode high in the water so it wasn’t worth it.
Robert also served in Korea which he said was easy. He was with Mag12 Airwing and passed out ping pong balls. He later served at Camp Pendleton until his retirement in 1960 at the rank of Staff Sargent (E6). There is a video in which Robert speaks of his experiences which I highly recommend viewing. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-M-p-6jsn0After his retirement from the Marines Robert founded an Animal Rescue and well known in the local area for his efforts in rescuing and rehabbing sick and injured animals. Among which was his pet Cougar. Robert also spoke publicly about his experiences and how valuable freedom is.
Sadly Robert passed away 26 April 2020 in Veterans Home of Chula Vista. He is survived by two sons and several Grandchildren and other family members.
NOTE: This mission posting facilitates your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all PGR members are welcome, we will be accompanying our hero and his family from the staging location to the destination. Please see the timetable if you would like to participate.
TIMETABLE FOR SUNDAY, 20 MARCH 2022:0900 - Stage at Park N Ride, 3446 Old Hwy 395, Fallbrook, CA 92028. (This is at Junction of Hwy 76 and I 15 next to the Mobil station)
https://goo.gl/maps/Js6abooQrNAFUJxK70920 - Mission briefing
0930 - KSU to Parking and WC Palomar Mounting, Pauma Valley, CA 92061
https://goo.gl/maps/iNesBM5AjqkN2YPx7 (Approximately 31 miles) for Flag Line as his ashes are to be scattered. PGR will not participate in this segment.
1030 - Est arrival at WC Palomar Mounting
1045 - Flag Line for transfer of Hero from vehicle & dismissed
R/C CRAIG LANE (AKA JIP-C) USMC
SOCAL PGR RIDE CAPTAIN bigredroadglide@yahoo.com
760-900-0388
“You have never lived, until you almost died. For those who fought for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know.” Hershel (Woody) Williams USMC Medal of Honor. Permission given to use given courtesy of Center for American Values.We encourage those who do not ride to participate in your car. If this is your first mission, go to the initial staging area, where you will be briefed 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.
