FRANKLIN
Robert L. Hyatt, 91, of Franklin, passed away Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, at the Franklin United Methodist Community.
He was born Feb. 17, 1925, in Waverly, to John Henry Hyatt and Ethel (Ward) Hyatt. Robert was one of two remaining Indiana three war veterans.
He served as an Army medic in World War II and Korea before being honorably discharged. He then enlisted in the Marine Corps where he helped expand the Da Nang Air Base in Vietnam.
In World War II, he served under General George S. Patton and was shot in the leg during his third campaign. He recovered and returned to duty.
In the Korean War, Robert received a near mortal bayonet wound while providing first aid to another soldier. He saved the soldier’s life before allowing himself to be removed from the battlefield and treated for his own wound.
In Vietnam, he successfully stopped an enemy combatant who tried to explode a bomb at the air force base.
Upon his second honorable discharge, Robert returned home to his family and worked various jobs quietly until his retirement. In 1990, he did try to re-enlist so that he could fight in Operation Desert Storm, however he was denied due to his age.
In 2015, Gov. Mike Pence awarded Robert with the Sagamore of the Wabash, Indiana’s highest civilian recognition.
Robert was also awarded the Distinguished Hoosier Award, an Indiana Joint Resolution honoring his life and multiple other awards for his service to our country.
While visiting Washington D.C. in 2015 as part of the Indy Honor Flight, a reporter asked Robert how many lives he had saved during his time as a war medic. Robert replied with teary eyes and simply said “not enough.”
Robert dedicated his life in the service of the country he loved so much.
After retiring, he worked for Bonded Gas Station in Greenwood and as a security guard at several companies.
Surviving are his children, Robert L. Hyatt of Grisom, David H. Hyatt (Charity) of Bronson, Florida, Charles E. Hyatt (Stacey) of Columbus, Timothy W. Hyatt (Sonny) of Pueblo, Colorado., Ona May Boggs of Irvington, Texas, and Rex Hyatt of Edinburgh; brother, Norman Hyatt of Martinsville; sisters, Martha Duke (Bill) of Franklin and Josephine Park (Wayne) of Montgomery; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wives, Wanda (Curtis) Hyatt, Dorothy J. “Dot” (Qualls) Hyatt, and Shirley (Bloxam) Hyatt; a son, Dallas Hyatt; grandson, Johnathan D. Hyatt, and brothers, Russell Hyatt and Oren Hyatt.
A service for the residents of the Franklin United Methodist Community will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Wright Chapel of the Franklin United Methodist Community, 1070 W. Jefferson St., Franklin. A military funeral will follow at 1 p.m. Thursday at Franklin Community Middle School, 625 Grizzly Cub Drive, Franklin with visitation from noon until service time at the school. Burial with military honors will take place in Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois on Jan. 7.
Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin is handling the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contributions be made to the Indy Honor Flight P.O. Box 10 Plainfield, IN 46168 or at www.indyhonorflight.org.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at swartzmortuary.com.
Information: 317-738-0202
