Covenant HomeCare and Hospice Presents: A Veterans Appreciation Lunch for Veterans of East Tennessee

Covenant HomeCare and Hospice will be hosting a veterans appreciation lunch for veterans of East Tennessee. The event will feature guest speaker William “Bill” Robinson, a retired Air Force captain and former prisoner of war.

Event Details

October 17, 2023
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Bridgewater Place
205 Bridgewater Rd.
Knoxville, TN 37923

RSVPs are required as limited seating is available. RSVP by calling 865-541-4500.

About the Guest Speaker

William A. Robinson was born in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. He enlisted in the United States Air Force after graduating high school in 1961. After several assignments within the United States and a year-long tour in Korea, Airman First Class William Robinson was transferred to Thailand to serve with an Air Rescue and Recovery unit in the spring of 1965. In North Vietnam on Sept. 20, 1965, flying aboard an HH43B helicopter during a rescue mission to save a downed F-105 pilot, A1C(E4) Robinson and his crew were shot down by enemy fire. He and his crew survived the crash but were soon captured by enemy forces on the ground. He spent the next seven and a half years as Prisoner of War in North Vietnam.

After his release and return to the United States in 1973, he was one of three enlisted men to receive a direct commission to Lieutenant in the United States Air Force by the President of the United States, in recognition of his conduct while being held as a Prisoner of War. In addition, he was the first enlisted man to receive the Air Force Cross, a medal of valor, second only to the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest military award. His Air Force Cross is currently on display at the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Hall, a museum located on Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

He earned a Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, POW Medal, two Purple Hearts along with seventeen other awards and decorations. He is honored at the Eglin Air Force Base Museum in the Vietnam Prisoner of War display. He, along with Neal Black, is listed in a book titled “Honor Bound, American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia” as the longest held enlisted POWs in American history. A biography of his life has been released: “The Longest Rescue” written by Dr. Glenn Robins.

After serving in Vietnam, Captain Robinson completed Aircraft Maintenance Training and was assigned to the 33^rd Fighter Wing Eglin Air Force Base as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. He retired from the Air Force in 1984 after serving his country honorably for 23 years. His service includes 12 years of enlisted service and 11 years as a commissioned officer. Captain William Robinson now resides in Lenoir City, Tennessee, with his wife Ora Mae.

About Covenant Health’s Veterans Program

Covenant Hospice is a Level V partner – the highest designation possible – in the We Honor Veterans program, a National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and Department of Veterans Affairs initiative that supports veterans and their families during end-of-life care. The goal of the program, to care for and honor those who have served when they reach the end of life, is achieved through community partnerships to educate and expand awareness of services and benefits available to veterans and their families during end-of-life care.

Learn more at CovenantHealth.com/Community-Programs-Events/Veterans-Programs.

About Covenant HomeCare and Hospice

Covenant HomeCare and Hospice is the area’s largest locally-owned home health and hospice provider, with one of the largest rehabilitation departments in East Tennessee. Annually, we care for over 4,700 patients through our Knoxville branch.

Since 1978, we’ve tried to embody the Covenant HomeCare mission by providing the highest quality of service for our patients. Whether through unrivaled rehabilitation care or support for end-of-life pain and discomfort management, Covenant HomeCare and Hospice puts our patients first.

Learn more at CovenantHealth.com/HomeCare-Hospice.