Robert Cord

Robert A. "Bob" Cord, 98, of Fruitland, passed away, Monday, December 20, 2021, at the Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson.

He was born December 27, 1922, in St. Louis, MO, son of J.O. and Martha Larsen Cord. He married Iris S. Guess July 6, 1946. She passed away November 3, 2010.

Bob graduated in the 1940 class of Normandy High School in St. Louis County. While attending Normandy High, he was a member of the 1939 and 1940 wrestling team that won the Missouri State wrestling championships. Bob won the 125 lb state championship as a member of the 1940 team.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp in August of 1940. Bob qualified for entry into pilot training as an Aviation Cadet in early 1943 and successfully completed training and graduated as a fighter pilot with the grade of Flight Officer in February 1944. Following the end of WWII, he reverted to his previous rank of Staff Sergeant and entered the electronics and communications career field. In 1949 he received a direct commission of 2nd Lt. in the USAF reserve. In 1951 while serving as a M/Sgt in charge of aircraft radar drone operations, he participated in Operation Greenhouse, which included the detonation and testing of live atomic bombs. His group received the presidential unit citation for their participation in this exercise.

In November 1952 he was recalled to active duty as a 2nd Lt. with pilot duties. In 1953, because of his past enlisted experience in the electronics and communications field, he was selected to attend Officer's Communications School. In 1958 he was selected and awarded a commission of Captain in the Regular USAF. He remained in communications and electronics field for the remainder of his military career achieving the rank of Lt/Col and the position of Assistant Director of Communication, Has 2nd/Air Force, Strategic Air Command.

Upon his retirement in September 1971, he had completed 31 years and 11 days of active duty and had held every rank available at the time, from Private through Lieutenant Colonel. An unusual result of his military career was the assignment of five separate and distinct serial numbers, all on active duty, (enlisted, flight officer, commissioned both reserve and regular US Air Force, and SSN.) To his knowledge, no other military member had this experience. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal during his service in Vietnam.

Throughout his military career, Bob was active in military and civilian sports, mainly baseball, fast pitch softball, and bowling. He was a member of USAF Air Base baseball/softball teams at Sioux Falls, SD, Harding Field, LA, Chanute AFB, IL, Grenier AFB, NH, Boca Raton FL, Ladd AFB, AK, Castle AFB, CA, Mather AFB, CA, Biggs AFB, TX and Torrejon AFB, Spain. He was selected a league all star with the Alaskan League and Spanish African league. As player/manager, he managed the Castle Air Force Base team (fast pitch softball) in 1958, to second place in the USAF worldwide tournament, and again, in 1963, with the Terrejon AFB baseball team, won second place in the all European AF tournament. Also in 1963, while stationed in Madrid, Spain, he and his partner won Spain's National Doubles bowling title.

He was a former member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Elks. He was a director with the Cape Girardeau Bowling association and was selected Director of the Year for 2010.

Loving survivors include a grandson, Robert "Michael" Cord Jr., of Fruitland.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his son, Robert M. Cord Sr., and three brothers, William O. Cord, Walter R. Cord, and Jesse O. "Bud" Cord.

Friends may call from 4-7 pm, Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be 12:30 pm Thursday, December 23, 2021, at the funeral home.

Burial will follow in the Missouri State Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield, MO with full military honors.

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