HOMETOWN HERO: BENJAMIN L. ROBINSON

BENJAMIN L. ROBINSON
U.S. AIR FORCE (1988-1995)

Benjamin Lee Robinson was born on Friday, December 5, 1969 and graduated from Covington High School in 1988. He entered the United States Air Force in November of 1988 and finished in December of 1995.

Robinson went to boot camp at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and then went to Lowry Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado for technical school to become a Graphic Specialist. His first assignment began in March of 1989 at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska, just south of Omaha, Nebraska. This is the location where he met his future wife and love of his life Stephanie Hill from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on Saturday, March 3, 1990. During his time at Offutt Air Force Base, Robinson served in a high level department that provided graphic materials essential for the Gulf War from 1990 to 1991 and while in Nebraska he took part in the sport of amateur boxing by participating in a few smokers.

In March of 1991, Robinson was transferred to Clark Air Base in the Philippines for a one-year assignment. The assignment was cut six months short due the volcano eruption of Mount Pinatubo, which was located just nine miles from the base. Mount Pinatubo first erupted on June 12, 1991, which forced Robinson and the graphics department he served in to head over to Subic Bay, a U.S. Naval Base in the Philippines. The volcano erupted again on June 15, 1991, which was the second largest volcanic eruption in the 20th century. A typhoon called Typhoon Yunya struck the Philippines the same day, which forced darkness for 36 hours and a large amount of volcanic ash to destroy a large portion of Clark Air Base. Robinson was the only service member in the Graphics Department that had to return to Clark Air Base on June 18th as the rest of the members returned to the United States. Clark Air Base, which was built in 1903, was shut down in November of 1991 and Robinson was able to leave the Philippines in September of 1991.

After a grueling experience in the Philippines, Robinson went to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio by earning a special assignment as a Medical Illustrator. Shortly after returning to the United States from the Philippines, Robinson married the love of his life, Stephanie Hill, on Thursday, October 10, 1991. During his four years at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Robinson provided essential drawings and graphics for medical training.

In December of 1995, Senior Airman Benjamin L. Robinson closed out his seven-year military career.

Ben Robinson is with his idol and step-father Ed Wise at Lackland Air Force Base in January of 1989.
Ben Robinson receives his ranking as Airman First Class at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska in 1990.
Ben Robinson, a 132 pounder, goes through his amateur boxing training at Offutt Air Force Base in 1990.
The eruption of Mount Pinatubo just outside of Clark Air Base in the Philippines on June 12, 1991.