Robert W. Breaks – Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report

Robert W. Breaks, 85, a Colonel who retired from the Army in 1966 as deputy director of chemical, biological and radiological warfare, and then worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, died of a heart attack July 27, 1998 at his Annandale home.

Colonel Breaks was a native of Crawfordsville, Indiana, who attended Indiana University and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He received a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Purdue University.

He served in North Africa and Italy during World War II. He later was a chief chemical officer, worked for the joint chiefs of staff and commanded the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas.

At NASA, he was a program manager in the experimental division until 1977.

His honors included a Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and four Army Commendation Medals. He was a member of the Retired Officers Association.

His wife, Claire Breaks, died in 1980. There are no immediate survivors.

BREAKS, ROBERT W., COL, USA (Ret.)

On Tuesday, July 27, 1999. Loving husband of the late Claire Breaks; uncle of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Breaks II of Reading, PA, Mr. and Mrs. Peter B. Heartley of Houston, TX and Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Kretzer of Phoenix, AZ. Graveside services will be held on Friday, August 6, at 1 p.m., Arlington National Cemetery.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard