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Bob Randall entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program on February 20, 1968, and was commissioned an Ensign in March 1969. Ensign Randall next completed flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator at NAS Kingsville, Texas, in August 1969, followed by F-4 Phantom II Replacement Air Group training with VF-121 at NAS Miramar, California, from August 1969 to June 1970. He served as an F-4J pilot with VF-103 at NAS Oceana, Virginia, from June 1970 to May 1972, and then deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-60) from May 1972 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on July 11, 1972.
Lieutenant Randall was released during Operation Homecoming on March 29, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at the U.S. Naval Hospital at Portsmouth, Virginia, and then attended fighter weapons training with VF-43 at NAS Oceana from August to September 1973. He attended F-4J Replacement Air Group training with VF-101 at NAS Oceana from September 1973 to June 1974, and then attended Naval Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, from June 1974 to June 1975. Commander Randall's final assignment was as a test pilot assigned to NAS Patuxent River from July 1974 until he left active duty on June 29, 1979.
- Bronze Star (2)
- Prisoner of War Medal