Komer, Robert William (11081321) - Revision history

Admin: Expand documented full name in infobox and lead

2026-09-25T03:50:12Z

Expand documented full name in infobox and lead

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:50, 25 September 2026
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	\|surname=Komer		\|surname=Komer
	\|first=Robert		\|first=Robert
	\|middle=W.		\|middle=William
	\|class_section=E		\|class_section=E
	\|class_rank=Pfc		\|class_rank=Pfc

Admin: Admin moved page Komer, Robert W. (11081321) to Komer, Robert William (11081321) without leaving a redirect: Expand documented middle name: William

2026-09-25T03:50:07Z

Admin moved page Komer, Robert W. (11081321) to Komer, Robert William (11081321) without leaving a redirect: Expand documented middle name: William

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:50, 25 September 2026
(No difference)

Admin: Normalize place format (birth_place: Chicago, Illinois, U.S. -> Chicago, Illinois; death_place: Arlington, Virginia, U.S. -> Arlington, Virginia)

2026-09-16T02:58:22Z

Normalize place format (birth_place: Chicago, Illinois, U.S. -> Chicago, Illinois; death_place: Arlington, Virginia, U.S. -> Arlington, Virginia)

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:58, 16 September 2026
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	\|death_date=9 April 2000		\|death_date=9 April 2000
	\|death_year=2000		\|death_year=2000
	\|birth_place=Chicago, Illinois~~, U.S.~~		\|birth_place=Chicago, Illinois
	\|death_place=Arlington, Virginia~~, U.S.~~		\|death_place=Arlington, Virginia
	\|alias=Robert William Komer		\|alias=Robert William Komer
	\|battles=World War II		\|battles=World War II

Admin: Apply shared profile publish standards

2026-09-02T15:39:26Z

Apply shared profile publish standards

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:39, 2 September 2026
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	\|photo=Wikipedia_Lyndon_Johnson_and_Robert_Komer.jpg		\|photo=Wikipedia_Lyndon_Johnson_and_Robert_Komer.jpg
	\|known_for=Under Secretary of Defense for Policy		\|known_for=Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
			\|nativity=United States
	}}		}}

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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==


	Robert William "Blowtorch Bob" Komer (February 23, 1922 – April 9, 2000) was an American national security adviser known for managing Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support during the Vietnam War.		Robert William "Blowtorch Bob" Komer (February 23, 1922 – April 9, 2000) was an American national security adviser known for managing Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support during the Vietnam War.

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	While with the NSC, Komer and others negotiated with Israeli prime minister Levi Eshkol a memorandum of understanding (MOU) about Israeli nuclear capabilities. The March 10, 1965, MOU, variously interpreted since, said 'Israel would not be the first country to "introduce" nuclear weapons to the Middle East'.		While with the NSC, Komer and others negotiated with Israeli prime minister Levi Eshkol a memorandum of understanding (MOU) about Israeli nuclear capabilities. The March 10, 1965, MOU, variously interpreted since, said 'Israel would not be the first country to "introduce" nuclear weapons to the Middle East'.

	Komer arrived in South Vietnam in May 1967 as the first head of the newly created Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support program, the most controversial aspect of which was the Phoenix program, which William Colby later testified resulted in 20,587 deaths. CORDS was an agency with a staff of both civilians and military personnel, but it fell under the authority of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. President Lyndon Johnson had sent Komer to South Vietnam to provide impetus to the nation-building efforts of the new organization. Komer was known for his brusque management style, which had endeared him to the president and earned him the nickname "Blowtorch Bob" from U.S. ~~ambassador~~ Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. As head of CORDS, he commanded all pacification personnel in South Vietnam.		Komer arrived in South Vietnam in May 1967 as the first head of the newly created Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support program, the most controversial aspect of which was the Phoenix program, which William Colby later testified resulted in 20,587 deaths. CORDS was an agency with a staff of both civilians and military personnel, but it fell under the authority of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. President Lyndon Johnson had sent Komer to South Vietnam to provide impetus to the nation-building efforts of the new organization. Komer was known for his brusque management style, which had endeared him to the president and earned him the nickname "Blowtorch Bob" from U.S. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. As head of CORDS, he commanded all pacification personnel in South Vietnam.

	However, the problems CORDS faced were intractable and the results of Komer's work ambiguous. In a revealing discussion with military historians, Komer said "everybody and nobody" was responsible for counter-insurgency against the communist Vietcong guerrillas. He said it "fell between stools which accounted for the prolonged failure to push things on a large scale even though many correctly analyzed the need". Komer focused his work on the expansion of village militias loyal to the South Vietnamese government, believing they could provide local security against guerrillas.		However, the problems CORDS faced were intractable and the results of Komer's work ambiguous. In a revealing discussion with military historians, Komer said "everybody and nobody" was responsible for counter-insurgency against the communist Vietcong guerrillas. He said it "fell between stools which accounted for the prolonged failure to push things on a large scale even though many correctly analyzed the need". Komer focused his work on the expansion of village militias loyal to the South Vietnamese government, believing they could provide local security against guerrillas.
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	Robert Komer's first marriage to Jane Komer ended in divorce. He later married Geraldine, who died in 1996.		Robert Komer's first marriage to Jane Komer ended in divorce. He later married Geraldine, who died in 1996.


	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==

Admin: Clarify museum roster and Dan Gross research sources

2026-08-31T03:49:14Z

Clarify museum roster and Dan Gross research sources

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:49, 31 August 2026
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	== Sources ==		== Sources ==
	* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Komer Wikipedia: Robert Komer]		* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Komer Wikipedia: Robert Komer]
	* Camp Ritchie ~~class roster~~ (~~classes~~ 1–31), ~~merged~~ research ~~file~~		* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
			* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
	* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)		* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
	* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)		* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)

Admin: Enrich from Wikipedia: Robert Komer

2026-08-24T13:01:27Z

Enrich from Wikipedia: Robert Komer

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 |certificate=D
 |education=Harvard University (BA, MBA)
-|occupation=Actors and actresses
+|occupation=Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; Deputy National Security Advisor
 |marital=Single without dependents
 |confidence=high
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 |battles=World War II
 |photo=Wikipedia_Lyndon_Johnson_and_Robert_Komer.jpg
 }}
@@ Line 32: / Line 33: @@
 == Biography ==
 Robert William "Blowtorch Bob" Komer (February 23, 1922 – April 9, 2000) was an American national security adviser known for managing Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support during the Vietnam War.

Admin: Enrich from Wikipedia: Robert Komer

2026-08-24T04:48:02Z

Enrich from Wikipedia: Robert Komer

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:48, 24 August 2026
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	\|state=MISSOURI		\|state=MISSOURI
	\|certificate=D		\|certificate=D
	\|education=~~4 years of college~~		\|education=Harvard University (BA, MBA)
	\|occupation=Actors and actresses		\|occupation=Actors and actresses
	\|marital=Single without dependents		\|marital=Single without dependents
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	\|class_number=13		\|class_number=13
	\|class_display=13		\|class_display=13
			\|birth_date=23 February 1922
			\|death_date=9 April 2000
			\|death_year=2000
			\|birth_place=Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
			\|death_place=Arlington, Virginia, U.S.
			\|alias=Robert William Komer
			\|battles=World War II
			\|photo=Wikipedia_Lyndon_Johnson_and_Robert_Komer.jpg
	}}		}}

	<div class="soldier-lead">		<div class="soldier-lead">
	~~'''~~Robert W. Komer~~'''~~ (~~born~~ 1922) was ~~a United States Army Private First Class who trained at [[Camp Ritchie]], Maryland, in [[Class 13]]. Robert enlisted at Ft Devens, Massachusetts~~.		Robert William "Blowtorch Bob" Komer (February 23, 1922 – April 9, 2000) was an American national security adviser known for managing Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support during the Vietnam War.
	</div>		</div>

	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	~~''Add a biography~~, ~~family details~~, and ~~sources~~. ~~Click Edit to change this page; no account is required.''~~
			Robert William "Blowtorch Bob" Komer (February 23, 1922 – April 9, 2000) was an American national security adviser known for managing Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support during the Vietnam War.


	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==
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	== Sources ==		== Sources ==
			* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Komer Wikipedia: Robert Komer]
	* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file		* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
	* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)		* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
	* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)		* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)

Admin: Move opening paragraph onto page for visual editing

2026-08-20T12:09:36Z

Move opening paragraph onto page for visual editing

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:09, 20 August 2026
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	{{Soldier		{{Soldier
			\|lede_on_page=1
	\|asn=11081321		\|asn=11081321
	\|surname=Komer		\|surname=Komer
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	\|class_display=13		\|class_display=13
	}}		}}

			<div class="soldier-lead">
			'''Robert W. Komer''' (born 1922) was a United States Army Private First Class who trained at [[Camp Ritchie]], Maryland, in [[Class 13]]. Robert enlisted at Ft Devens, Massachusetts.
			</div>

	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
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	* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)		* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
	* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)		* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)

Admin: Initial import

2026-08-18T02:00:00Z

Initial import

New page

{{Soldier
|asn=11081321
|surname=Komer
|first=Robert
|middle=W.
|class_section=E
|class_rank=Pfc
|birth_year=1922
|enlistment_place=FT DEVENS MASSACHUSETTS
|state=MISSOURI
|certificate=D
|education=4 years of college
|occupation=Actors and actresses
|marital=Single without dependents
|confidence=high
|class_number=13
|class_display=13
}}

== Biography ==
''Add a biography, family details, and sources. Click Edit to change this page; no account is required.''

== Research notes ==
* Enlisted Reserve or Medical Administrative Corps (MAC) Officer

== Gallery ==
''After you are autoconfirmed, [[Special:Upload|upload a photo]] and add <code><nowiki>[[File:Example.jpg|thumb|caption]]</nowiki></code> here, or set <code>|photo=Example.jpg</code> in the infobox.''

== Technical record ==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! Field !! Imported value
|-
| Nara ASN || 11081321
|-
| Nara Name || KOMER ROBERT W
|-
| Nara State || 75
|-
| Nara County || 199
|-
| Nara POE || 1328
|-
| Nara DOE || 50443
|-
| Nara Grade Alpha || PVT
|-
| Nara Grade Code || 8
|-
| Nara Branch Alpha || NO
|-
| Nara Branch Code || 2
|-
| Branch || No branch assignment
|-
| Nara Term or Enlistment || 5
|-
| Term of enlistment || Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
|-
| Defer. Date || 0
|-
| Nara Source || 5
|-
| Nara Nativity || 61
|-
| Nativity.1 || ILLINOIS
|-
| Nara Year of Birth || 22
|-
| Nara Race || 1
|-
| Nara Race Description || White citizen
|-
| Nara Education || 8
|-
| Nara Civilian Occupation || 2
|-
| Nara Marital Status || 6
|-
| Nara Height (inches) || 0
|-
| Nara Weight (lbs) || 150
|-
| Class_ASN || 11081321
|-
| Class_Name || Komer, Robert W.
|-
| match_method || asn_exact_name_exact
|-
| row_source || both
|-
| Census_HISTID || DF1755BC-151B-4A25-AC5B-E96259D7093E
|-
| Census_State || MISSOURI
|-
| Census_Relate || Child
|-
| Census_Sex || Male
|-
| Census_Age || 18
|-
| Census_BirthYear || 1922
|-
| Census_Marital || Never married/single
|-
| Census_Race || White
|-
| Census_BPL || ILLINOIS
|-
| Census_MBPL || 0
|-
| Census_FBPL || 0
|-
| Census_Educ || 1 year of college
|-
| Census_OCC || 995
|}

== Sources ==
* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)