Bob Bertoldi was born in Detroit, Michigan, June 27th, 1944. His family moved to Huntsville in 1961 and Bob enlisted in the Army in 1964. Bob completed his Basic Training at Ft. Gordon, GA, then 12 week AIT training as a medic at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. After AIT he was assigned to the Baumholder Hospital in Baumholder, Germany, where he attended advanced medical training. Bob volunteered to go to Vietnam in 1966 and spent one full tour as a Combat Medic assigned to 2nd, Bn, 14th Inf, 25th Infantry Division.
Specialist Five Bertoldi distinguished himself by heroic actions on 8 August 1967, while serving as unitâs senior medic near the village of Phu Cuong, Republic of Vietnam. During a five hour battle with a heavily fortified enemy force, Specialist Bertoldiâs company suffered 14 casualties. Specialist Bertoldi jeopardized his own life while treating and assisting in the evacuation of the casualties who often lay within 15 meters of the enemy positions. He often moved across open fields, saturated by enemy fire, to assist, encourage, and inspire new medics who were serving under fire for the first time. When the company was ordered to move to a new position and part of the second platoon remained on line to cover the movement, the platoon sustained several additional casualties. Specialist Bertoldi quickly reorganized his medics, led them back into the forward area, and began treating the wounded. At this time, the majority of the company had withdrawn and the enemy was concentrating his fire power on the remaining elements. The compassion, selfless valor, and exemplary professional efficiency demonstrated by Specialist Bertoldi saved the lives of several seriously wounded men. Specialist Bertoldiâs action are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, the 25th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Bob left the Army in November 1967. Through the GI Bill he completed his education in Commercial Art and later married in 1981 in New Orleans, LA., where he worked as a Technical Illustrator and Graphic Artist. In 1985 he moved back to Huntsville, AL where he worked for NASA and Intergraph Corp as a Graphic Artist. He worked for the Department of Defense at Marshall Space Flight Center at the Redstone Arsenal where, including his military time, he retired in 2006 as a Graphic Artist compiling thirty-one years of Government Service.

During that time Bob was a member of the VFW for 22 years and a member of Madison American Legion, Post 229 where he retired as Vice Commander. During his time as Vice Commander, through different benefit programs, he raised enough money to erect a monument honoring all the Veterans from Madison, AL that died for our country while serving in WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, and all the recent wars on terrorism in the Middle East. The monument now stands at the intersections of Main Street and Church Street in downtown Madison, in our Veteran's Park.

Bob Bertoldi umpired baseball for 37 years. Umpiring baseball was a huge part of his life. Bob ended up being a National level umpire officiating major Regional and national Tournament all over the U.S.A. including the Little League World Series which was televised nationally on ESPN.