SPEAKER
FOR
MEETING ON
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026
Robert J. Garabedian
Robert J. Garabedian was born on November 13, 1924, in Boston, MA, and attended South Boston High School. He volunteered for the Army Air Corps at age 17 and officially enlisted upon turning 18.
His military service included time as an Aviation Cadet from May 7, 1944, to December 23, 1944, followed by service as a Fighter Pilot until September 30, 1945. His training took him across several locations:
- Basic Training: St. Louis, MO, and Butler University, IN.
- Classification and Preflight School: San Antonio, TX.
- Primary Flight School: Ballinger, TX (PT-19).
- Basic Flying School: San Angelo, TX (BT-13).
- Transition and Gunnery School: Moore AFB, TX, where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. (AT-6 and P-40).
- Firing Training: Matagorda Island, TX.
- P-47 Fighter Pilot Training: Fort Sumner, NM.
Following the end of the war, he was honorably discharged from Fort Sumner. Upon returning to civilian life, he was married to his sweetheart for 72 years and had 12 children.
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