Colonel Doak

Church Road, Virginia - Colonel Robert Linwood Doak, He was born in Cumberland Maryland, on November 28, 1917. Colonel Doak graduated from Pennsylvania Avenue High School in 1935.He was a member of the varsity baseball team for 2 years, president of HI-Y, as well as a member of the student counsel and the national honor society. He later attended The Catherman Business school and worked at Kelly Springfield Tire Company and the Celanese Corporation of America. In 1940, he enrolled at Potomac state college. While at Potomac state, he was a member of the debating team, the Theta Sigma Chi fraternity, and was elected president of the student body for the 1941 - 42 school years. During Easter vacation, of his freshmen year, he and a friend hitch hiked to Toronto and joined the Royal Canadian air force. At the urging of Canadian officials, they were advised to return to college and complete their freshman year and then return to Canada. However, in September 1941, he was drafted into the United States Army. After completing basic infantry training at Camp Croft, South Carolina he attended the officer candidate school where he was commissioned a second lieutenant. In 1943, he married Patricia Ann Cordn. Pat died an untimely death six months later. In 1944, during the invasion of France, he was seriously wounded while commanding "g" company, 121st infantry, 8th division. He received battle stars for both the Normandy, and northern Normandy France campaign. He was hospitalized in England, Walter Reed and Woodrow Wilson hospital in Staunton, Virginia. After recovering from his wounds he was assigned as an instructor at the Army Infantry school at Fort Benning, Georgia in February of 1945, he married Aline Helen (Skippy) Billard. In 1951 he was stationed in Korea. He served as executive officer, 2nd battalion, 223 infantry, 40th division. He was a member of the United Nations military armistice commission and was present at the signing of the military armistice. He served as a member of joint observer team number one, which had responsibility of monitoring enemy activity along the military demarcation line. In 1953, he was assigned to headquarters 3d army. While there he attended the advance infantry officer's course and the command general staff college. Also during this tour, he became a Master parachutist. In 1964 - 1966 during the Vietnam War, he served as executive officer and acting plans training officer at headquarters, United States army, Vietnam. During the years 1966 - 1969 he served as the liaison officer, headquarters, United States Army Pacific, Fort Shafter Honolulu, Hawaii. Colonel Doak retired from military service in November, 1970. During his twenty-nine years, he received 27 awards and decorations. he was twice awarded the combat infantry badge, the Bronze star and purple heart. He later joined the Virginia employment commission, where he served for 12 years as a tax representations and office manager before retiring again in 1983. He was a lifetime member of the American legion, disabled American veterans, the military officer's associations of America, the reserve officers association, as well as the elks club and the lions club, and our savior Lutheran church, Vero beach, Florida. Colonel Doak is survived by his son Robert L. Doak, II and daughter-in-law, Cindy Lou Doak of Church Road, Virginia. he is preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Aline Helen (Skippy) Doak. His father, Henderson Homer Doak, mother Frances Folsom Doak, a brother, Ralph B. Doak , and his sister Margaret E. Doak. Colonel Doak will rejoin his much-loved Skippy in Arlington National Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday November 29, 2017 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory 2033 Boulevard Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com.

Visitation Details

Wednesday, November 29th, 2017 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small