9th Ward Veteran Interviews - Bob Rawlins

Spotlight on Brother Bob Rawlins

We appreciate those who fight for our country. Brother Bob Rawlins is one of our heroes. He served in the Army during the Korean Conflict. He served in Korea starting in 1954 through 1956. His total time of service was 22 months and 9 days. Brother Rawlins was a volunteer draft from draft office in Kaysville to Fort Douglas and left the next morning for Korea. He was drafted with his brother and the two stayed together throughout until their discharge. During his service he became a corporal; there were many times when he felt like he had been protected. He said, “We have our freedom; we should protect it and retaliate when necessary.” Brother Rawlins’ says his testimony was strengthened. He said, “I was strengthened spiritually because I felt I was ‘chosen’ to serve my country so I served to the best of my ability!”

Brother Rawlins noted that his father served in the military in the Philippines and came home on Christmas Eve in 1946. He found it interesting that he and his brother were discharged on December 23, 1956, where they took a train from Fort Ord, California to Ogden, Utah then they took a cab from Ogden to Bountiful arriving home on Christmas Eve in 1956—ten years from the time his father got home!