 Robert Throneburg, Nemo's Handler, at the Dedication of South Carolina K9 Memorial Biography:
In Memory of
Robert "Bob" Allen Throneburg
1944 - 2020
Date of Birth: Sunday, September 22nd, 1944
Date of Death: Wednesday, February 5th, 2020
OBITUARY:
Gaffney, SC - - Robert
“Bob” Allen Throneburg, 75, of 604 College Drive, passed away on Wednesday,
February 5, 2020 at his residence.
Born in
Charlotte, NC, he was the husband of Patricia Frazier Throneburg and the son of
the late R.A. Throneburg and Mary Brooks Throneburg. Bob was a highly decorated
Vietnam Air Force Veteran, receiving two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star and The
Warrior’s Medal of Valor from the American Indian Nation. He and his service
dog, Nemo served together at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon. Nemo was his
“hero warrior dog”, who is memorialized at Lackland Air Base in Texas. Nemo was
later used to recruit other service dogs for the United States Military. Bob
was a graduate of Albemarle High School and attended North Carolina State
University. He also loved music, enjoyed scuba diving and reading. Mr.
Throneburg was a member of The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation.
In addition to
his wife, also surviving are two sons, Eric Allen Throneburg of Wilmington and
Brian Layfayette Throneburg and wife, Tamara, of Isle of Palms; a daughter,
Susan Throneburg Brislin and husband, J.B. of Charlotte; two grandchildren,
Jett Lucas Brislin and Caitlin Rohn; two great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Jade
(E.J.) Rohn and James Jacob Rohn; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family
will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at
Blakely Funeral Home. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday,
February 12, 2020 at The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation with Reverend
Jenny Gettys officiating.
In lieu of
flowers, memorials may be made to: Security Forces Museum Foundation, PO Box,
276412, San Antonio, TX 78227-6412 or VSPA, C/O Richard Garcia, 400 Jefferson
Street, Massapequa, NY 11758 or Thailand Dog Handlers, C/O Dave Broeker, 1712 Crescent
Drive, Pekin, IL 61554-1637.
Nemo received dog training and was then partnered with
Airman 2nd Class Bob Thornburg. They
were assigned to patrol at the cemetery near the company's airbase in
Vietnam. While patrolling, they came
under fire. Nemo took a shot to his eye
and his partner, Thornburg, was shot in the shoulder. Nevertheless, Nemo continued to attack the
enemy which gave Thornburg the time he needed to call for reinforcements. Shortly thereafter, Thornburg fell
unconscious and Nemo crawled up beside him, protecting him from harm until he
was later forcefully removed from Thornburg's side. Nemo made it back from Vietnam and was given a
permanent retirement kennel. Nemo lived to
be 11 years old, dying in December of 1972.
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