Wichita veteran served in the Marine Corps and the Kansas Air Guard

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A Wichita man who followed in his father’s footsteps is proud that his son is now doing the same thing.

Robert Pryor is a proud veteran who served as a corporal in the Marine Corps and an e4 in the Kansas Air Guard. He says a college education motivated him and a buddy to pursue military careers after graduating high school.

“Well, I wanted to go to college, but I didn’t have any money for college, so we got the bright idea to go join the service. Originally, we both wanted to go into the Navy, but I kind of chickened out. I wasn’t going to spend all that time on a ship, so I ended up going into the Marine Corps,” said Pryor.

He also says that his choice to join the Marine Corps and Air Guard allowed him to follow his father’s example and motivate future family members.

“I followed in my father’s footsteps. He did two tours in Vietnam. My youngest son is also an active reserve at the Kansas Air Guard, and he’s loving it, so that’s three generations of military service from my family,” said Pryor.

When reflecting on his time in the military, he says that boot camp had one of the biggest impacts on him because it taught him to rely on his inner strength.

“Anyone who goes to complete boot camp, that’s something you have to do on a personal level, and you can’t rely on your mom, your dad, your brother, your sister. You rely on yourself. I did a lot of praying. Made some new friends, but boot camp was the defining moment, and it set the precedent for the rest of my life. I knew once I made it through there, there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do,” said Pryor.

Local veteran made his mark in both the Marines and the Army

He now spends his days working in aerospace here in Wichita and riding his Harley. He’s the commander of American Legion Post 273 and a member of the “legion riders” who attend community events to honor veterans.

“If you have a funeral, they’ll do a ceremony and ride with you to the burial site. They go out to local events here and do flag (ceremonies). It’s kind of veterans’ support of any local events,” said Pryor.

He credits his military career for teaching him the life lessons that have made him a local leader and recommends military service for any young Wichitan looking for direction in life.

If you want to nominate a veteran for our Veteran Salute, send an email to [email protected] or fill out our online contact form!

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