Before boarding the Navy Blue Angels C-130 aircraft at Davenport (Iowa) Airport, Bob Matthys gets a pre-flight briefing from Marine Capt. Edward Jorge. Matthys’ June 19 ride aboard “Fat Albert” was based on his lengthy community service. Matthys, as...
Bob Matthys shares his Vietnam-era C-130 experiences with Marine Gunnery Sgt. Joe Alley, crewmember of the Navy Blue Angels "Fat Albert" cargo plane. A Marine veteran, Matthys is associate director, Office of Small Business Programs for Army Sustainm...
Bob Matthys relaxes before takeoff aboard the Navy Blue Angels "Fat Albert" cargo plane. A Marine veteran. Matthys is associate director, Office of Small Business Programs for Army Sustainment Command and Joint Munitions Command. He flew aboard the p...
Bob Matthys, the associate director, Office of Small Business Programs for Army Sustainment Command and Joint Munitions Command, was awarded the rare opportunity to ride with the Blue Angels during the Quad City Air show on June 19.
Retired Navy Rear Adm. Sam Kupresin, nominated Matthys to fly with the Blue Angels. “I’m really honored,” said Matthys, “Rear Admiral Kupresin told me that the nomination was based upon my service to the community.” The Blue Angels only select two community members to fly with them at each of their shows.
Matthys was chosen to fly with the Blue Angels on a C-130 named Fat Albert. The plane received its name back in the 1970s as a nod to the famous children’s cartoon show. Fat Albert’s crew is comprised of three Marine Corps pilots, two engineers, a loadmaster, a flight mechanic and a navigator.
“I used to fly in a C-130 during Vietnam,” chuckles Matthys, “but I was a grunt and sat in the back”. He reflected on his time spent in the Marines saying, “We used to fly C-130s in Vietnam and during operations we used to drop food and supplies. And back in the States I flew on C-130s when we would transport prisoners to Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Cherry Point, N.J.”
Matthys was honored with a seat in the cockpit for his Fat Albert flight. As he admired the interior of the plane, he remarked, “When I last flew, there was orange web strapping for seats. We would enter and exit the craft from the tail gate. Today, they have sofas in there!”
Marine Capt. Edward Jorge, thanked Matthys for not only his service to our country as a proud Marine, but for his community service to the Quad Cities. Said Jorge, “We know more about you than you think and you have truly shown what it means to serve.”
Capt. Ben Blanton, explained, “Our number one mission is to serve our country and represent the 500,000 men and women who serve as Sailors and Marines. Our second mission is to help inspire young people, to show them they can do great things, even if they don’t serve in the military.”
A lifelong resident of Davenport, Matthys has shown support for his community in both his professional and personal life. Vicky Miller, the center director for the Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center, located at Blackhawk College, Moline, Ill. said, “My office has the real pleasure of working with Bob at Rock Island Arsenal. Bob’s tireless efforts to support area small businesses in the Quad Cities are unmatchable and legacy-building. Bob has the highest integrity and does everything 110%.”
“Bob is also a strong champion for disabled adults and disabled veterans. He goes the extra mile outside the office to champion their cause…and he always wants to ‘shine the light’ on someone else…which is the sign of a great leader. The phrase ‘one in a million’ fits Bob Matthys,” she added.
Outside the office, Bob is known for his love of sports and working with kids. Over the last 25 years years, Matthys has coached football at Bettendorf High School, Assumption High School in Davenport, Iowa and served as the president of Rising Knights Youth Football for 10 years. He also served as the president of Central Little League Baseball for 20 years.
“I enjoy working with kids. Coaching helps kids learn about teamwork and that sport is a mirror image of life. At the start of every football practice I tell my kids that their actions on and off the field have an impact on the whole team,” Matthys remarked.
Following his Fat Albert flight, the crew presented Matthys with a glossy photo of the Blue Angels, complete with his name at the top and signed by all the crew members. Copies of the photo were made available for Matthys’ children and grandchildren.
Matthys’ service included a three-year stint in the Marines. Matthys is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, who served from 1967 to 1970. During that time, he served with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and 3rd Marine Division in 1968 & 1969. Most notably, Matthys entered the service as a Private and received 2 combat promotions, Sergeant (E-5) and Staff Sergeant (E-6) within 15 months.
If the Navy and Marine crew of Fat Albert were inspired upon meeting Matthys, Matthys was equally impressed. “I enjoyed the ride very much. What I enjoyed even more was the professionalism of the crew. Talking to them reaffirmed that the Marines of today are just as dedicated and polished as the so called ‘old timers’. You can rest assured that America is in great hands and well protected when we have servicemen and women like this, dedicated to God and Country,” he concluded.
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