11/20/2025 Bull Island Brewing Co. Banquet Room

Hampton Rotary Club Member Bob Harper will share insights from his one-year tour of duty as an Infantry officer with the 101st Airborne Division. He will recount his experiences and responsibilities in key leadership roles—including Rifle Platoon Leader, Battalion Staff Officer, and Company Commander. Through personal reflections, Bob will offer a unique perspective on that pivotal time in our nation’s history, discussing how he viewed the Vietnam conflict then and how his understanding has evolved over time.

Bob is originally from Mississippi and attended West Point, Class of 1969.  He was commissioned as an Infantry Officer and served 26+ years in Infantry units around the world.  He commanded an Infantry Battalion in the 2 Infantry Division in the Republic of South Korea and an Airborne Infantry Brigade in the 82d Airborne Division.  He retired from active service in 1995 and relocated to Hampton to serve as a Defense contractor in Suffolk, helping prepare high level military and civilian US leaders for future conflict.  Bob left that position in 2010 and established a professional photography studio, Bob Harper Portraits, in Hampton, where he continues to provide high end, legacy portraiture and restorations for his clients.  Besides the Hampton Rotary where he serves as our Foundation Chair and Sergeant-at-Arms, Bob is active in St. John’s Episcopal Church (Vestryman and leader of the Men’s Study Group), the Retail Alliance (Board Chair), the Downtown Hampton Development Partnership (Vice Board Chair), the Virginia Professional Photographers Association (Board member, past President), and the Hampton Family YMCA (Board member).

Agenda:
6:00PM – Cocktails & Networking
6:30PM – Call to Order , Club Business and Dinner
7:00pm – Speaker Presentation
7:30PM -Adjourn