World War II Veteran Honored at Utah Jazz Basketball Game

At the Utah Jazz basketball game on Veterans Day, 90-year-old Staff Sgt. Robert Robinson was honored by tens of thousands of fans for his heroic efforts serving in World War ll. From surviving combat missions 70 years ago to “graduating” off of hospice care in October, Robinson has escaped death time and time again. 

Though he says the “real heroes didn’t come home,” Robinson — who served as an 8th Army Air Force engineer and waist gunner on a B-24 bomber — survived three dozen combat missions in the European Theater and was shot down four different times. He was twice listed as “missing in action,” only to surface both times with the rest of his crew. With several other close calls, Robinson was awarded a total of five Purple Hearts as a result of injuries suffered while escaping death.

Last year, health problems prompted Robinson to be placed on Silverado Hospice. Silverado staff members took an active interest in Robinson and enjoyed hearing his stories first-hand. Josh Littlefield, a Certified Nurse Assistant with Silverado and an active Naval Reserve boatswain’s mate, became fast friends with Robinson. Littlefield shares, “Bob is the kind of guy that no matter how bad your day is, he will help make it better. He just brightens your life with a great sense of humor. I really admire and respect his service and sacrifice for our country.”