Robert Joseph Hymel

Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force, retired - a decorated combat pilot of Vietnam.

He took a degree at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1969, joined the Air Force that December, and was awarded his pilot's wings in 1970. He flew B-52s with Strategic Air Command over Vietnam; in 1972 his aircraft was struck by surface-to-air missiles and he brought it down safely. He took a master's in business administration at Western New England College in 1974 while on active duty.

Over twenty-four years he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal among others, and was a veteran of two wars - Vietnam, and Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He retired in September 1993.

He began at the Defense Intelligence Agency in March 1994 as a senior management officer in the comptroller's office, responsible for joint manpower questions in military human intelligence.

He played golf, supported the Redskins, was active in his church and the Knights of Columbus, and beamed every time he finished a job about the house, large or small.

His wife Pat, his daughter Natalie and her husband Patrick, his granddaughters Lauren and Kayla, his mother Elsie, his brother Clyde and his sister Mary.