Robert Holmes Bott Jr.

September 12, 1943 - September 23, 2020

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 30th and Thursday, October 1st, 2020 at Kramer Funeral Home in Fifth Ward. A Mass of Christian Burial for Robert Holmes Bott, Jr. will be held at 11:15 AM on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Fifth Ward with Rev. Kurian Zachariah officiating. The burial will be held at Port Hudson National Cemetery, 20978 Port Hickey Road, Zachary, LA 70791 on Friday, October 2, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. under the direction of John Kramer & Son Funeral Home. Robert Holmes Bott, Jr., 77, of Fifth Ward, passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, while in care at Ochsner Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 Robert is preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Kathleen Wright Bott; his parents, Robert Bott, Sr. and Theresa Bott; his sister, Inez Bott; and one grandson, Tanner Bott. Robert was born on September 12, 1943. He was a devout Christian who loved spending time with his family, cooking, hunting and fishing. Robert served 35 years in the Army and National Guard and retired as Command Sergeant Major. His accomplishments were many and received multiple awards which included the Legion of Merit (3), Cross of Merit (3), Commendation Ribbons (7), Emergency Services (5), Longevity Military Ribbons (7), Meritorious Service (2), Army Commendation (3), Army National Achievements (4), Army Reserve Component, National Defense Service, Humanitarian Service, Army Armed Forces Reserve, National Guard Armed Forces, General Excellence (5). Those left to cherish his memory includes his son, Michael Bott (Mandy), daughters, Kimberly Bott Williamson and husband James, Tina Bott (Kirt), and Sherry Bott McMickin; sister, Elizabeth Bott, and step-children, Christopher Juneau and wife Tara and Nicole DeAngelo and husband Tim, fifteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Pallbearers honored to serve will be Bobby Duff, Zachary Bott, James Williamson, Tim DeAngelo, Toby Turk and Kirt Lamartiniere. Honorary Clayton Bland. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758525 Topeka, Kansas 66675-8525 – ATTN: Community Fundraising – (In Honor of Robert H. Bott, Jr.) Military Memoirs written by Robert Bott. • April 64 thru Jun 64 – Basic Training – Fort Polk, LA. Rank Pvt E1 - Learned the basic skills to be effective in the army. Skills included discipline, physical training, weapons qualifications, and working as a team player. Attended Basic NCO Academy, Ft Polk Jun 64. Really enjoyed Basic Training compared to other soldiers’ feelings. Some of those soldiers had bad attitudes and didn’t want to be there. • July 64 thru Aug 64 – Advanced Infantry Training – Fort Polk, LA. Rank PFC E3 – More advanced training in weapons qualifications, escape and evasion, being a team player, combat formations, and learning how to survive in combat for those going to Vietnam. Real easy (I guess I was in great shape, so no sweat in the physical part) • Aug 64 thru Sep 64 – Airborne Training – Fort Benning GA. - Rank PFC E3. Trained in how to parachute from any type of aircraft. Double timed (ran) everywhere we went. Did plenty of pushups, pullups and sit-ups. Made several 5-mile runs (hot summer made it a little tough) Learned many techniques on how to land with a parachute. Made five jumps and qualified as an airborne trooper. Four of those jumps were from a C-119 (Flying Box Car) and one jump from a C-123. Very proud when I graduated. A side note: My father was an airborne soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II and saw combat in Africa, Sicily, France, Holland and Germany. Very proud of him and his service. • Sep 64 thru Apr 66 – Special Forces Training – Fort Bragg, NC – Rank Sgt E5. Attended classes in operating and firing weapons from all parts of the world. Learned engineer techniques on building different structures and preparing demolitions and exploding different types of explosives. For the first time I was able to learn and use techniques for scuba diving (that was a lot of fun, but extremely physical). While at Ft Bragg made five or six 25-mile marches with a full combat pack and weapon (M-14). Made several parachute jumps, which included, night jumps with and without full combat packs. Made jumps from helicopters, and planes C-123s, C-130s, C-141s and CV-2s. I really enjoyed myself when I was at Ft Bragg. • May 66 – May 71 – 95th Training Division – Rank SSG E6. Drill Sergeant at Fort Polk, LA. Attended Drill Sergeant School at Ft Polk and graduated as number one in the class. As Drill Sergeant I trained Basic Trainee’s in preparing them to become soldiers. This was a lot of fun because of what I went through in April 1964 and what I was putting the trainees through. • Apr 71 – Mar 75 – 199th Support Battalion of the 256th Inf Brigade – Louisiana National Guard - Rank SFC E7 - Performed duties as Operation Sergeant. This job was to support the Brigade with supplies, such as food, ammo, fuel and medics. While at Cp Chaffee we fed and housed Vietnamese refugees from the Vietnam war (this was a head ache, barracks were in poor condition and the food we provided them was not what they ate.) • Apr 75 – Apr 78 – Company B, 527th Engr Bn – Louisiana National Guard – Marksville, LA - Rank SFC E7- Served as Operation Sergeant. My job was to ensure that all assigned construction projects were completed on time. We completed many projects throughout Louisiana. • Apr 78 thru May 84 – Co B, 527th Engr Co – Rank 1st Sgt E-8 served as first Sergeant of company B. As First Sgt I was responsible for the welfare of the men of the company insuring they were trained and qualified for their jobs. Performed work in Panama in 1984 (Constructing 26 miles of road through the jungle.) This was the best position I held in my entire military career. Too many memories to write down. • May 84 thru Nov 86 – HQ, 527th Engr Bn, Louisiana National Guard, Shreveport LA. - Rank CSM E-9. Served as Command Sergeant Major of the 527th Engr Bn. This position was responsible for five companies that required training, supplies and equipment to perform their duties. Total number of soldiers responsible was about 1,200. Performed work in Panama 1985 (Finished the 26-mile road and constructed an air strip in the jungle). Working with the five companies and overseas was interesting. One sad point is that we lost one soldier to drowning in the Pacific Ocean. We also completed many projects in Louisiana, such as, extending runways at some small airstrips, building levees, constructing ball parks and repairing building belonging to the Louisiana National Guard. • Nov 86 thru Mar 90 – HQ. 225th Engineer Group. Camp Beauregard, Pineville, LA - Louisiana National Guard - Rank CSM E-9. Assumed the duties as Group Command Sergeant Major. Was responsible for the ensuring that the soldiers of the group were fed, clothed and trained. The 225th Group consisted of four Battalions and one headquarters company consisting of over four thousand men. We traveled in many countries (England, Sweden, Jordan, Germany, Italy, Panama, Costa Rico, and Honduras.) We completed projects in Louisiana, throughout the United States and the world. This job kept us very busy. • Apr 90 – Aug 92 - HQ. 225th Engineer Group. Camp Beauregard, Pineville, LA - Louisiana National Guard - Rank SGM E-9. Reassigned to the Plans and Construction Section. We prepared blue prints for all the projects that we were to complete. This was a desk job that I didn’t care for, but it was interesting. • Sep 92 – Apr 96 - HQ. 225th Engineer Group. Camp Beauregard, Pineville, LA - Louisiana National Guard - Rank CSM E-9. Reassigned back to Group Headquarters as the Group Command Sergeant Major. Assumed the duties as Group Sergeant Major. Was responsible for the ensuring that the soldiers of the group were fed, clothed and trained. The 225th Group consisted of four Battalions and one headquarters company consisting of over four thousand men. We conducted construction projects in Louisiana, Belize- Guatemala- Honduras (Task Force Jaguar 1996), and Panama. We constructed two and five room schools, miles of roads, repaired a hospital roof and emergency operation room, and build several one and two room schools throughout Belize and Guatemala. Traveled to South Korea to inspect airstrips, roads, bridges and port access should a need become in the event of an attack from North Korea. In Panama we build two suspension bridges (1995) in the jungle so the people could bring their goods to market. Before the bridges it took the natives three days to bring their goods to market, after the bridges were completed it only took them one day to deliver their goods. I really enjoyed this project. Stayed in the jungle and slept in a tent and has to use the river to wash. All our supplies were delivered by helicopter. During our projects in Central American we lost three soldiers – one was killed in a knife fight in Honduras and two were killed in a vehicle wreck in Guatemala. We honored the soldiers killed in the vehicle wreck by naming two of the schools after them. • May 96 – Sep 97 – Task Force Pelican – Belize, Central America. Rank MSG E8 (Master Sergeant). Took a reduction in rank so I could go on the Task Force. Performed duties as Construction Supervisor. Build several two and five room schools along with three two room medical facilities. Projects were completed on time and within the budget constraints. This was my last deployment overseas. • Oct 97 – Jun 99 - Headquarters STARC, Jackson Barracks, New Orleans, LA. Promoted back to SGM E9(Sergeant Major). Duties included working with other Sergeant Majors throughout Louisiana. Meetings were held to see what was the status of the morale of the soldiers, equipment needed to complete missions and any recommendations to improve the status of the Louisiana National Guard. Retired from the military after serving 35 years. Good and bad times, enjoyed it all, would do it again if I was physically fit. • Schools attended: Basic Training, Basic NCO Academy, Advanced Infantry Training (Fort Polk) 1964, Airborne Training (Fort Benning) 1964, Special Forces Training (Fort Bragg)1964 -1966, Drill Sergeant School (Fort Polk) 1969, Construction Utility NCO Academy (Ft Leonard Wood Mo) 1978, Senior NCO Academy (LA Military Academy) 1979, Advanced Infantry NCO Course (Ft Benning, GA) 1980, Battle Skills Course (CP Chaffee) 1986, United States Sergeant Major Academy (Ft Bliss, Tx) 1988 • Decorations and Medals: Rifle M-14 Expert Badge, Rifle M-16 Expert Badge, 45cal Pistol Sharpshooter Badge, 9MM Pistol Expert Badge, M60 Machine gun Expert Badge, Airborne Wings, Drill Sergeant Badge. Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Medal, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon 4th Award, Armed Forces Reserve Medal 2nd Award, Army Commendation Medal 4th Award, Humanitarian Service Ribbon, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon Numeral 5, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal 3rd Award, Legion of Merit, Cross of Merit. Louisiana Emergency Service Ribbon, Louisiana Longevity Ribbon, Louisiana General Excellence Ribbon 3rd Award, Louisiana Commendation Medal, Louisiana Cross of Merit, Louisiana Legion of Merit.