1st Lt. Robert L Pankratz was also my classmate at Yale University, April 1961 to April, 1962, IFEL class K-04-61.  He was a true friend, brave enough to remember his enlisted man days and dare to study with an Airman Second Class who was having a difficult time learning Korean.   He taught me valuable lessons, and I am eternally in his debt.  He was an outstanding individual, dedicated to serving his country and fellow man.  He was a man of great integrity, willing to give the shirt off his back to anyone in need.  We had planned to drive home together from New Haven, CT, after graduation, me to Washington and him on to Oregon.  His orders were changed, so he sold me his 1949 Plymouth sedan, and I took on two other classmates for the trip.
How I tried to find him over the years!  I'll have to wait until we meet in Heaven to tell him it was worst oil-burner I've ever owned.   But, it was the best car deal I ever made.  It made the 3,000 mile trip without missing a beat, but two and a half quarts of oil to each tank of gas.  Mother drove it for eight months while I was at my next base. We made another 2,000 mile trip before I left for Korea.  I paid $80 for it and sold it to a sailor from Whidbey Island Naval Station for $60.  God Bless, you SIR!  Rest in peace.  I'll see you shortly my friend.

While my name is Paul Gordon now, I was Paul Gordon Binkley while an Airman in the USAF, stationed with then Lt. Pankratz at Yale's Institute of Far Eastern Languages from Apr 1961 to Apr 1962.  As I was Enlisted and he was an Officer, our acquaintance is best described as "nodding".   Simply put, L LIKED him!

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Robert Louis Pankratz

June 2, 1934 – May 8, 2019

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