Bob Page is a husband, father, and veteran. He was born at Fort
Benning, Ga. just prior to his father's deployment to Viet Nam. Bob
attended school in Georgia and Alabama, and upon graduation from high
school he left for Parris Island, SC. to become a Marine.
In October 1983, the Marine Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon was destroyed
by a suicide truck bomb. Bob graduated from Infantry Training School at
Camp Geiger, NC. and was ordered to sub-unit 1st Battalion, 8th Marines
as a combat replacement. When the unit returned home, PFC Page was
introduced to the "old Corps." This "boot" was
molded and trained by NCO's, SNCO's and senior Officers who had
completed at least one tour in Viet Nam. He left the Marine Corps to
pursue college and graduated with a radio/television degree. During his
college years, Bob yearned to return to the Marines. In 1989, Cpl. Page
was re-enlisted in the USMC Reserves.
His civilian career was taking off as a television cameraman. He was
employed in Atlanta, Ga. when Saddam Hussein attacked Kuwait in 1990. In
January 1991, Cpl. Page was recalled to active duty and reported to
HQMC. He served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm and was released back to
his civilian job. In the following years, Bob achieved great heights in
TV scoring 4 personal Emmy awards and the AP award for Best News
Video.
Television sent Bob all over the globe, and the Marine Corps kept
pace by sending him from Yuma to Hawaii, Quantico to 2 tours at School
of Infantry as an Instructor/Platoon Commander. But in 1997, he took the
leap into management.
Over the past 9 years, he has served in every management role in the
news department, Bob has achieved successes in several markets. Ratings,
awards, and community service mark these years. However, in 2001, Bob
left the US Marine Corps Reserve to follow his calling of faith in the
US Navy Reserve as a Religious Programs Specialist. As a Marine he
worked hard to avoid Camp Pendleton (save one short stint in 1992). When
he joined the Navy Reserve, he was sent to the I MACE, at, you guessed
it, Camp Pendleton, Ca.
The I MACE is the augmentation command for the 1st Marine
Expeditionary Force. Bob was mobilized with the I MEF and deployed to
Kuwait. He was ordered, along with his Chaplain, to the 1st Marine
Division to replace a Chaplain that had been relieved. He and his
Chaplain, Rabbi Elson, were with 1st Battalion, 11th Marines. Their RCT
(1) was involved in the battle of An Nasiriya, Al Kut, and the
liberation of Baghdad. Bob was awarded several medals, including the
Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal
with the combat "V" device.
Bob was de-mobilized in 2004 and went back into broadcasting. He is
very involved in veterans affairs and organizations, to include the Iraq
War Veterans Organization (of which he is a charter member and member of
the Board). His broadcast career has been recognized with 2 major
awards: The Edward R. Murrow Best Newscast award and the 2006 Emmy Award
for Best Newscast. All of this has been achieved while battling PTSD.
Bob recognized his need for help in November 2004, and e-mailed the VA
for help. He has been going to counseling and working hard to heal so he
can be the best husband, father and Sailor he can be.
