Howard “Bob” Vasalech is currently retired after 45 years of distinguished Military and civil service. He began his career at the early age of 17 when he enter the US Army. He was discharged after 3 years of service but, although still in the Army reserves, he chose to enlist in the US Air Force a year later. Fortunately for him, his first assignment was at Torrejon AB in Spain. This is where he met and married his beautiful wife Nita. They have been happily married for over 54 years.

Bob served in Vietnam from Nov 1967 through Nov 1968. His original assignment was Pleiku AB. He was sent to Phan Rang AB TDY to assist on maintenance of the Tactical ground navigation system. After that he was assigned 8 months to Ban Me Thuot MACV to train the Vietnamese AF personnel on maintenance of tactical ground navigation systems at a remote air field. He was also was in charge of ground radio and generator maintenance personnel.

Throughout his Air Force career, he served in numerous different assignments, such as training Air National Guard Ground Radio personnel and Ground Navigational Aids personnel. He also performed various special assignments at different sites in Europe and the Mediterranean. He went on to become the Ground Electronics Quality Control Inspector for the 1833 Engineering and Installation Sq out of Sacramento, CA. His last assignment prior to retirement after 22 Years of Military service was as Supervisor of Maintenance Control Branch at the AF Communications Sq Travis AFB, CA.

After retirement, Bob went to work for various Civil Service agencies including the General Service Admin and the Federal Protective Service as Electronics Security Systems Installations, System Specifications for contract bids and contract monitoring. He worked for the Navy (NAVELEX) on Electronic Ground and Ship Navigation and Communication Systems. He also worked for the Dept. of the Navy at the Bermuda Airfield as a Technical Advisor for all the Ground Electronic Navigation Systems, Communication Systems. and Computer Systems. Due to closure of the Bermuda Airfield by the Navy, he transferred to the National Weather Service as a Electronics Systems Analyst, Systems Administrator and Manager of the electronics maintenance personnel. His last assignment was in Fort Worth, Texas where he retired in 2003.

Bob and his wife Nita moved to Boca Raton, Florida in 2012 to be closer to their adult children and their families. It was after this move that Bob’s PTSD worsened to the point that it was negatively affecting his ability to have any quality of life. One day, a retired Veteran and his service dog walked into his daughter Debra’s shop. His story was so similar to her father’s that she knew that a service dog was exactly what Bob needed. They began searching and that’s when his wife Nita met Corie Braun from CCUSA at the VA Hospital. She calls Corie their Angel. Bob now has his service dog and best friend Rusty and life is getting better ever day. Bob knows first hand the life changing effect a service dog can make and is committed to helping in every way he can to help others to get their service dog too.