Robert Apodaca was born at Laredo AFB, TX in 1964, while his father was an Air Force Instructor Pilot with the 3640th Pilot Training Wing. In 1967, Major Victor Joe Apodaca Jr. was killed in Vietnam when Robert was just three years old. His F4 Phantom fighter jet was shot down over North Vietnam, and he was missing in action for years.

In the summer of 2001, his father’s remains were identified through a blood sample from an uncle. In September, Robert accompanied his father’s remains for burial at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was the only passenger allowed in U.S. airspace in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

After decades of what he calls an ‘emotional roller coaster’ of false hope, Robert’s family finally had answers—and peace. But he has not stopped helping other Gold Star families. He remains involved in Sons and Daughters in Touch, an all-volunteer, national support organization committed to uniting the Gold Star sons and daughters of service members who were killed, or who remain missing from the Vietnam War. He also served on the Board of Directors for the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia.

“I want them to know the Airman’s Creed, the last two lines: I will never leave an Airman behind, I will never falter, And I will not fail,” says Apodaca. “For me those aren’t words. That’s a promise the military kept,” he adds. “It’s our military brothers in arms. We’ve got to keep going and make the effort to do it.”

After high school Robert attended the U.S. Air Force Academy but ultimately got his Electrical Engineering degree at the University of Alabama. Robert was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Alabama, and for his first assignment he was sent back to Colorado Springs. Currently he is Sr. Staff Systems Engineer / Sr. Staff Flight Test Engineer with Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Florida.

During his active-duty career in the USAF, Robert was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, and the Aerial Achievement Medal for his actions in his service to his country.