For Robert Earl Tackett, military service was more than just a duty—it was a life-transforming path out of poverty and a lifelong commitment to protecting others.
A U.S. Army veteran and 68 Whiskey medical specialist, Tackett spent 24 years in uniform, spanning nine years in the active-duty Army and 15 years in the National Guard. Along the way, he served as a medical platoon sergeant for the 185th Infantry, completed five deployments, and led 17 combat missions in Iraq—the most for anyone of his rank in his unit.
Yet, despite a decorated career packed with near-death experiences, Tackett’s ultimate destination brought him to a quiet life in southern Minnesota, where he continues to serve his community today.
Growing up in California, Tackett’s family moved roughly every two years to escape financial hardship. Seeking stability and opportunity, he joined the Army in September 1986, becoming the first of his generation to serve. His choice inspired two of his brothers to follow suit, leading to decades of combined military service across the family.
“I recommend it for anybody for a few years—it’s a great, life-changing experience,” Tackett said. “Yes, you take a chance going to war, but it’ll make a warrior out of you.”
Tackett completed basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, where his unit was among the last to pass through before the post closed its basic training operations. While his background in athletics made physical drills manageable, the infamous Confidence Course proved to be the ultimate test.
“That course had obstacles that challenge your brain more than your brawn,” Tackett recalled, describing giant ladders, 20-foot drops, and ziplines into water designed to build mental fortitude. “It terrifies you, but it’s meant to build your confidence to do dangerous tasks.”
The rigorous training culminated in a final test: running 25 miles in full 40-pound gear while completing live-fire combat tests and low-crawling under barbed wire. “At the end, you’re disgusting, dirty, muddy, and sandy, but very proud.”
After basic training, Tackett completed Advanced Individual Training (AIT) to become a medical specialist (originally 91 Alpha, later reclassified as 91 Bravo and 68 Whiskey). He mastered advanced paramedic skills—EKG monitoring, chest decompressions, emergency tracheotomies, IV administration, and setting bone fractures.
Following the events of September 11, 2001, combat readiness became paramount. While stationed at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Tackett began supplemental hand-to-hand combat training under Sensei Ryan Lowe. Over 25 years of training in Bujinkan Ninjutsu, Tackett earned a third-degree black belt—a skill set he credits with saving his life four times during combat operations.
Over his 24-year career, Tackett deployed five times:
- 2001 (Utah): Guarding chemical weapons depots at Tooele Army Depot post-9/11.
- 2004–2006 (California Border): Assisting Border Patrol with surveillance, running first aid clinics, and providing medical support at Naval Air Facility El Centro.
- 2004–2006 (Sinai Peninsula, Egypt): Serving with the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO 48). Following the 2005 Sharm El Sheikh terror bombings, Tackett and fellow EMTs rushed to local hospitals to stabilize hundreds of wounded victims and assist in casualty identification.
- 2006–2008 (California Border): Continuing medical and surveillance operations along the southern border.
- 2008–2009 (Iraq): Serving on the front lines, managing triage shifts, prepping wounded service members for surgery, and participating in 17 high-risk combat missions.
Tackett’s time in Iraq brought relentless pressure and unpredictable danger. During one overnight convoy, Tackett was unexpectedly called to step in for an injured medic at the last minute—leaving him in full body armor, but without any ammunition for his rifle after loaning his magazines to a fellow soldier earlier that night.
When a trailing vehicle broke down in the middle of a dark desert, Tackett was ordered to pull security on the perimeter with an empty weapon. Suddenly, the lights in the nearby town went out, followed by heavy small-arms fire and incoming tracer rounds.
“The laser show starts and it’s like Star Wars, followed by the sounds of AK-47s firing,” Tackett vivdly recalled. As heavy .50-caliber machine guns returned fire, Tackett sprinted through the crossfire and dove through the closing hydraulic doors of an armored vehicle to safety. Upon returning to base, he discovered a piece of shrapnel had grazed his face just below his left eye, requiring another medic to superglue the wound.
Despite the heavy trauma he witnessed, Tackett credits his early commitment to sobriety and rigorous mental conditioning for keeping him grounded. Early in his career, after witnessing a tragic alcohol-related traffic accident involving a fellow soldier, he swore off alcohol and drugs entirely.
“I needed to be available to help others whenever they needed me,” Tackett said. “I understood what the job entailed… I helped save hundreds of people on the battlefield with my EMT training.”
After returning from Iraq in 2009, Tackett retired from active service. To make up for lost time, he and his wife, Mona, took a road trip across the country. A stop in Minnesota to visit family convinced them to stay. Drawn by the peace and beauty of the region, they moved to the Waseca area in 2018.
“It’s the longest time I’ve ever settled anywhere,” Tackett said. “It’s very peaceful here.”
Now semi-retired, Tackett works as hospital security in Owatonna and performs armed security for homeless shelters in the Twin Cities. He remains deeply active in local veteran and civic organizations, including the Waseca VFW, American Legion, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, and the Waseca County CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), recently helping with cleanup efforts following flooding in New Richland.
Tackett also teaches free first aid, emergency response, and self-defense classes to local students, churches, and seniors through his martial arts instruction at the Scorpion Den dojo.
A father of five—none of whom joined the military, as Tackett proudly vowed to complete five tours so his children wouldn’t have to—he is also an author. He has written two published books on first aid and self-defense, with two more in development focusing on his near-death experiences and life skills for young adults, as well as a TV series pilot titled The Adventure Club.
Looking back on a career represented by a binder overflowing with commendations, service ribbons, and medical certificates, Tackett’s focus remains firmly on the future of his community.
“Our future and the strength of the community rely on our youth,” he said. “We should all use our talents to make our community safe.”
