Robert Alvin Doktor

Robert A. Doktor, 95, of Bronx, New York, transitioned March 6, 2021, in his sleep at home in Corona. Born Dec. 12, 1925, Robert was a highly-decorated Marine pilot serving 27 years through WWII, Korea and Vietnam, flying over 700 flights almost half combat, earning 11 air medals among other honors. Robert also retired from Orange County after 21 years of service. Robert married Michiko Shimazaki of Okinawa for fifty-plus years. Robert kept active with grandchildren, veteran advocacy and supporting causes for intercultural harmony. Robert was a warrior ceaselessly faithful to all he served, from family and community, nation and humanity, exemplifying "Semper Fidelis." Robert A. Doktor lives on through the many lives he saved or touched, and his legacies: sons Steve, Pete and Ray, daughters-in-laws Denise and Monique, grandchildren Cara, Joshua, Reiō and Max, great-grandchildren Skyla, Calina and Caden, great-great grandchild Bynlee, and Schauzer Gunny. Memorial services: April 13, 2021, 9 am at Thomas Miller Mortuary in Corona, followed by burial at Riverside National Memorial Cemetery at 11 for family; service video will be viewable online at: https://www.thomasmillermortuary.com/obituary/robert-alvin-doktor/ In lieu of flowers please donate to one of Roberts favorite charities https://donate.ushmm.org/6hRw6kqugUOvJLNKCIbD1g2 https://www.vetdogs.org/AV/HowtoHelp/WaystoGive/AV/HowToHelp/ways_to_give.aspx?hkey=f60f9fb7-b8e3-4c57-8db5-c833a8d3d9ae Robert Alvin Doktor: Biography of A Life Well-Lived, Ever Faithful Robert A. Doktor, aka Bob, Red, Doc, Top and Akabū ("red-head" in Okinawan), descended from Ashkenazi immigrants. His Grandfather, Sigmund Doktor, was one of the top tanners in Marienbad, in Austria-Hungary, and owned the first plane in the nation, possibly around the 1920s. His maternal family Marcus (grandfather Abraham) were successful Ashkenazi bakers in Breslau, Germany. Robert's father Emil Max Doktor immigrated through Ellis Island from Bohemian Austria - only to return as a soldier to fight the Kaiser back in Germany. He returned from the war, but eventually died from respiratory complications due to mustard gas poisoning in 1929. Money promised from family in Europe never made it to the Doktor's, and with the Great Depression engulfing the world, Emil became a ragpicker and money runner for the mafia. Robert also lost uncles on his maternal side in WWI as was the fate of many new immigrants to the USA. Flora Marcus Doktor was born in Breslau, Germany. Flora also immigrated through Ellis Island, and met and married Emil in New York City in 1916. Eventually widowed, she was provided a newsstand, of which a very young Robert helped with the family business on the streets of New York City. Flora was also active in Democrat Party politics with the launching of women's suffrage. Aunt Margaret Marcus, Flora's sister, was also born in Breslau. She was a Precinct Captain in the New York State Democrat Party, and knew Elenor Roosevelt. Aunt Margaret became Robert's legal guardian after he was orphaned in late 1942; this was in order to enable teenage Robert to enlist in the Marine Corps at age 17. Robert's middle brother Chester Doktor, was born in 1920 and died from scarlet fever and pneumonia 1928. Robert honored his life throughout his own, as well as his parents and other family through memorial (Yahrzeit) at the Temple Beth El in Riverside, California. Robert's family back in Europe abandoned his mother after his father died. Tragically, they never heard back from European family until the rise of Aryanization and the concentration camps for which it was too late. Nazi's confiscated the Doktor assets and property in Nazi-occupied Czechloslavakia. Robert Doktor was born in a yellow-checkered taxi cab en route to the hospital (causing someone to pass out) in the Bronx, New York City on December 12, 1925. Robert lived in all the boroughs of NYC (with the exception of Staten Island), including living in Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, and Queens at some point of his life, where German and Yiddish was spoken while English was learned. Robert began selling newspapers around the age of 8 or 9, and later worked for Western Union, New York Times, in the advertising department picking up plates and exchanging between papers. Robert attended a vocational school, having to ride from the upper Bronx up to the Chinatown area. Robert's earliest childhood memory was "work, work, work." He did attend Summer Boys Camps for underprivileged children in 1935 and 1939, and spent the summer of 1937 in the hospital. He learned to play the violin in his youth, but lost that ability after a finger injury. Robert received his Bar Mitzvah in 1938. Robert ran with childhood neighborhood gangs after his mother died. With the mafia was around the corner, he didn't run with Jewish gangs, but rather Italian, sometimes challenging other gangs, sometimes other Italian gangs, to fights with cue sticks, broken bats. Robert's older brother Milton and cousin Lee ran around Mike Delosy, a world lightweight champion), while Robert ran around with his brother. Brother Milty joined the CCC and was sent to Sequoia. He returned around 1938, lived with family a year and then headed to Chicago. He drove a taxi that the diocese Head would use Milty as his regular driver while he partied. His first marriage got him into a family deli business Cook County. Due to the dispute around business, he punched out an in-law and was sent to jail around 1945. He returned to New York, met Claire, and got married around 1948. As for the Marines, they would take in at virtually any age with some form of legal guardian, often forged. Robert first tried to enlist at age 15 after his mother died from brain cancer, that started from breast cancer. She died in a Catholic home, House of Calvary, scarring him deeply. With the help of Aunt Margaret, he enlisted at the 90 Church Street Federal Building recruiting center. His first MOS (Military Occupational Speciality) was as "a grunt," infantry, MOS 734, at the age of 17. Robert began a long illustrious 27 year career in the United States Marine Corps. Among the Pacific Campaign, he was shipped to the hellish Battle of Okinawa, which he recalled "the ground was so soaked with blood it was slippery to walk on." It would haunt him through the rest of his life. After WWII, Robert briefly exited the USMC to finish high school, taking on assorted jobs including as a bellhop. Being a punchy Marine, he soon reenlisted. His experience in Korea with cold weather was so unbearable that he vowed he would never live in the snow again. Robert married his first wife Geraldine Hamilton in 1950. His son Steve Doktor was born in 1952. Robert received full custody of Steve after a divorce. Robert served in many capacities within his military career including aircraft mechanic, flight engineer, flight instructor and some recruiting. Robert was attached to the State Department for the Marine Embassy Guards and assigned as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the detachment at Managua, Nicaragua where he was on a first name basis with their dictator Somoza. Robert was the crew chief on a C-119 bringing supplies and aid to Lebanon when the Marine Barracks was blown up in 1958. Robert was fearless and befriended many high ranking generals and diplomats because he feared no one including generals or celebrities. On the other hand, there was no one Robert would not help, especially his fellow Marine; he embodied the expression "pay it forward" throughout his life. Robert logged an impressive number of flight hours flying around the world, including 700 in Vietnam alone, of which 300 were combat. Robert spent an extended tour of 20 months in Vietnam as a Flight Engineer on a refuel tanker aircraft KC-130F along North Vietnam up to the Chinese border, flying personnel and cargo throughout South Vietnam and returning wounded and killed-in-action soldiers (his worst life memory). Robert was a highly decorated soldier including eleven air medals, and Robert was honored by the California State Legislature, but was always overly humble. One time he was uncomfortable riding in a fancy car in a parade VIP, as he felt he was just doing what others his generation were all doing a citizens duty to defend freedom, home and each other, and always considered those who perished as the ones who should be honored. Military Awards: Combat Action Ribbon, American Defense, Asiatic Pacific Ribbon, W/2 Stars, Presidential Unit Citation, W/2 Stars, Navy Unit Citation W/2 Stars, American Campaign, Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Navy Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, 11 Air Medals and Presidential Memorial Certificate signed by current Commander-in-Chief/President. The USMC offered Robert a long overdue promotion to E-9, the highest rank for a non-commissioned officer, if he enlisted one more time for one more deployment back to Vietnam. Instead, Robert chose to retire in 1969 and start a new life with a new family. In the 1980s, he also declined the money and an offer by the CIA to fly secret transports to Nicaragua, citing "family first." Robert met Michiko Shimazaki in 1965 in Okinawa, where he was stationed many times throughout his Marine career. Robert courted Mickey until she couldn't refuse his hand in marriage in 1966 to begin a fifty-plus year marriage. He retired from the military after his son Pete and Ray were born in 1968 and 1969 respectively. After living in Santa Ana a few years, he purchased a new home in Corona, California in 1975 where he lived the remainder of his long life. Robert again worked a variety of jobs until starting his second career with the County of Orange in the early 1970s. Starting off as a maintenance man, Robert worked his way all the way up to a supervisor position until he retired in 1992 after 21 years of keeping parks and county property clean and safe for the people of Orange County. Robert was a mentor to many in this capacity. Robert also furthered his education and received a contractor's license starting his own side-business (Bob Doktor Irrigation Electronics) in an area he specialized in. Robert always had the greenest, most squared-away lawn in the neighborhood as his skilful hands with mechanics and electronics combined with his agricultural skills and knowledge. But Robert Doktor's life didn't end with retirement. From the 1980s, he began grandparenting and spending time with new generations of Doktor's, particularly on the East Coast. Robert kept active in many veteran associations and reunions. Robert became rather savvy with computers that he would use to keep in touch with distant friends. Robert was an essential member of a team that created the Corona Veterans Memorial, as well as a board member and trustee of the Marine Corps Air Transport Association, and active Marine Corps League member. Robert engaged in social dialog through submitting letters to the editor, often advocating for veterans. Robert routinely and generously donated to a very wide range of causes including veterans and intercultural harmony that was shaped by his youth by his New York City roots. For example, through his many diverse friendships, Robert would join community events at the Islamic Society in Corona. A younger Robert once knocked out a bartender from across the bar who refused to serve a fellow Marine returning from war because he was not White. In his elder years, Robert became an advocate for animal welfare as the master of a fierce miniature schnauzer, Gunny. Wherever Robert went he made friends, even if it meant speaking some of the numerous foreign expressions he picked up throughout his travels, particularly in Spanish. Robert was blessed with friendly neighbors who looked after each other as they aged. Robert lost his beloved Michiko in 2019, as well as his independence after a significant stroke in 2018. Still, Robert finally enjoyed a quality of life in his latter years surrounded by angel caregivers that genuinely cared and went above the call of duty of this feisty Marine. After busying himself for over nine decades and continuing to drive until the age of 93, Robert finally relaxed and enjoyed a quality of life, he was very well-taken care of enjoying delicious meals and daily desserts, watching old shows of another time, avoiding Covid-19, voting (successfully) in the 2020 elections, and swaying to music, always with someone he knew by his side. Robert took his final breath on March 6, 2021 in the comfort and security of his own home after 95 long years in his sleep, just a few days after the March 2 anniversary of Michiko's passing, as the two were likewise born within days of each other (December 12 and 15), having lived a life well-lived. Robert missed her dearly and couldn't wait anymore to rejoin her. Robert was a warrior ceaselessly faithful to all those he served, from family and friends, not just to nation, but also to our common humanity, exemplifying a transcendent expression of "Semper FidelisAlways Faithful" Robert A. Doktor lives on through the lives of the many people he saved or touched, and and his legacies: sons Steve, Pete and Ray, daughters-in-laws Denise and Monique, grandchildren Cara, Joshua, Reiō and Max, great-grandchildren Skyla, Calina and Caden, great-great grandchild Brynlee, and Schnauzer Gunny. Photo tribute for Michiko Doktor, wife of Robert Doktor: https://youtu.be/4WZZObdu6Bs Visitation Location Not Available Tuesday 4/13 Riverside National Graveside Service Video Service Thomas Miller Mortuary 1118 East Sixth Street Corona, CA 92879 (951) 737-3244 | Tuesday 4/13, 9:00 am Cemetery Riverside National Cemetery 22495 Van Buren Blvd Riverside, CA 92518 Tuesday 4/13, 11:00 am