Robert Finan received a commission in the U.S. Army in 1968 as a 2 nd Lieutenant. After completing Military Police Basic Officer Training Course at Ft. Gordon, GA, in August 1968, he was assigned to Ft. Dix, NY, as a Platoon Leader, 532nd Military Police Company. Simultaneously he held several staff officer positions in the Office of the Provost Marshal including Assistant Operations Officer. In June 1969, he completed the Army Airborne School, Ft. Benning, GA, volunteered for reassignment to Vietnam, and was deployed to the 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate.) He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in July 1969, served as unit commander for 173rd Airborne Brigade Military Police, and concurrently was the Brigade’s Deputy Provost Marshal. Upon completion of his combat tour in Vietnam, he was reassigned to the 11 th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Camp Kilmer, NJ, where he served as the S-3/Assistant Air Operations Officer and as the 11th SFGA (Airborne) SF A-Team Leader of Team, A-11.

Bob was released into the U.S. Army Inactive Reserve and was honorably discharged after he was commissioned a Special Agent in the U.S. Secret Service in 1973. He passed away in 2025 as a result of pulmonary fibrosis caused by his exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam. Mr. Finan’s military awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal. His unit citations include the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Palm, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal 1st Class.