Robert A. Fairchild (1930 - 2011) SGM (Sergeant Major) Robert (Bob) Fairchild U.S. Army (Ret.) of Boardman passed away on Saturday, May 21, 2011. SGM Fairchild was born April 20, 1930 in Naugatuck, Connecticut and was the son of Willis and Mildred Fairchild. Bob served 29 years in the U.S. Army and fought with the 7th Infantry Division in the Korean War (1951-1952) and with the U.S. Army Military Assistance Command in Vietnam (1965-1966) and with the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam (1969-1970). Major military awards / decorations earned by SGM Fairchild were the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star for Valor, the Purple Heart in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. In addition to Korea and Vietnam, he served in overseas assignments in Japan, Hawaii and Germany. Stateside assignments included U.S. Army Instructor duty with military science units; University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. (1956-1958), Penn State University (1960-1964) and Youngstown State University (1970-1979). He taught military courses in military history, military pedagogy, infantry weapons and tactics, rifle marksmanship and leadership / management. Bob was a life long bowler and was a member of several local bowling teams. He was an active supporter of the YSU football program for 35 years. He was the coach of the YSU varsity rifle team which won (3) LEIRC (Lake Erie Intercollegiate Rifle Conference) championships in the 1970s. After retirement from the U.S. Army Bob was employed by the Mahoning County Red Cross Chapter, as the assistant executive director and the director of disaster services from 1979-1992. He was a member of the Uptown Kiwanis Club for 33 years and served as club president in 1984. Bob was a 35 year member of the VFW Post 2799 and the American Legion Benjamin Firestone Post 290. He was preceded in death by his wife Jean and his brother George. He leaves his son John Fairchild (Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy (Ret.), granddaughter Christy, grandson Robert A., great grandsons Tyler and Jonathan, step son Richard Weber of Tampa, Florida, step daughter Karen Beardmore of Dallas, Texas, sister Erma Honniger, three brothers; Willis, Donald and Fred all of Connecticut. There are no calling hours. Arrangements are being made by Edward J. Fox and Sons Funeral Home of Boardman. Bob had a great passion for life and will be greatly missed by his family, friends and neighbors he so deeply cherished. The family has requested that anyone wishing to pay tribute to Bob make a donation in his name to the Mahoning Valley Red Cross. American Red Cross of the Mahoning Valley 661 Mahoning Ave. NW Warren, OH 44483