More detail on this person: Retired Army
Colonel Robert E. Short 85, of Eustis, whose
military career spanned more than 23 years, died
on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Delores
Jean Short. He was a war veteran of Korea, and
Vietnam. Colonel Short was born in West Palm
Beach, FL, July 2, 1931. He entered the Army as
an enlisted man in 1952. Upon completion of
Infantry basic training, he graduated from an
extensive communications training program. After
completing a combat tour in 1953, as
communications advisor with the 23rd Regt., 3rd
Infantry Division, Republic of Korea, he attended
and completed training as a Russian language
translator and counterintelligence specialist. He
was commissioned in the Infantry in late 1957, and
shortly thereafter re-commissioned in the Army
Transportation Corps to attend flight school.
Initial commissioned assignments included various
Army aviation training centers where he learned to
fly both fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
After flight training, Colonel Short was assigned
as test pilot for aircraft maintenance operations,
Fort Huachuca, AZ. Two years later, he was
reassigned to the USARAL aviation battalion, HQ,
US Army, Alaska. During this four-year tour,
Colonel Short commanded an aircraft maintenance
and supply unit, served as Battalion logistics
officer and finished his tour of duty as the
Battalion's S2/3 Intelligence/Operations officer.
He also attended the University of Alaska
graduating in May 1965, with dual degrees in
Industrial Management and Marketing.
Subsequent assignments included (1) senior
instructor Management Training Branch, US Army
Transportation School (USATSCH); (2) forming and
commanding, in 1966, the first UH-1C mini-gun
configured unit which, in January 1967, deployed
with the 9th Infantry Division to South Vietnam;
(3) Aviation Logistics Officer, 14th
Transportation Bn, USARV; (4) Director, IT/Telecom
training section USATSCH; (5) Exchange Officer,
British Army, Royal Corps School of Transport, as
Chief, Management Training Branch; (6)
Commander, 56th Trans. AM&S, Long Thanh North,
US Army Vietnam (USARV); (7) Director, Aviation
Data Analysis Center, USARV; and finished his
military career as Director, (Pacific Northwest)
Information Technology & Telecommunications, Fort
Lewis, WA.
During his military career, Colonel Short was
awarded the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying
Cross, three Bronze Stars, ten Air Medals, two
Meritorious Service Medals, two Army
Commendation Medals, Vietnamese Cross of
Gallantry and Korean War Service Medal. His
combat units were awarded the Presidential
Citation (Republic of Korea), Valorous Unit
Citation, 3 Meritorious Unit Citations, and
Vietnamese Civil Action Honor Medal. He also
received the Senior Army Aviator Badge. Colonel
Short was a graduate of the University of Alaska,
the London Business School, and Industrial College
of the Armed Forces. He also graduated from the
British Army's Royal Corps of Transport Career
Officer program. In addition to the foregoing, he
received extensive training while serving in the
Army in various disciplines related to information
technology and telecommunications.
After completion of military service, Colonel
Short was selected to direct the Saudi Arabian
Ministry of Defense's national implementation of
large computer mainframe systems, an effort which
included wide use of PCs, supported by terrestrial
and satellite telecommunications.
In late 1986, Colonel Short was requested to
accept a Senior Executive appointment as Director,
Information Services, Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty, Munich, Germany. His primary mission was
to create high speed, digital based broadcast
capabilities to counter Communist propaganda. The
Berlin Wall fell in less than three years after
Colonel Short provided the technology to stifle
radio broadcasting propaganda coming from the
Soviet sectors. He remained in this position until
early 1995.
After his retirement to central Florida, Colonel
Short became active in local community affairs
providing significant planning guidance to the
Lake County School System. He was an active
member of Military Officers Association of America
(MOAA), Distinguished Flying Cross Association,
American Legion, and Vietnam Helicopter Pilots'
Association (VHPA). He was a Christian
Survivors, besides his wife, include one daughter,
Carolyn Peterson of Mount Dora, one son, Charles
Short (Kara) Short of Rumson, NJ. and six
grandchildren. Funeral services will be held in
Arlington National Cemetery with Full Military
Honors.
Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington,
Arlington County, Virginia, USA
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 04/15/2017
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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