Marine Comes Home Finish Mission

Marine Comes Home
O O O TO O O O
Finish Mission
1st Lt. Robert M. Keefe Jr. returned to Okeechobee after an IED
severely injured him in Afghanistan and found his high school sweetheart
— as well as a new mission, one of service — awaiting him.
S
mall-town boy falls in love with
girl, loses girl, goes off to war, finds girl
again and lives happily ever after. Sounds
just like the plot of a Nicholas Sparks
book. But for Robert “Bobby” Keefe Jr.
this plot is reality, and it didn’t exactly
happen that easily or quickly. Not to
mention, he still has many chapters to
add to his book called life.
‘He's an outstanding Marine and a true leader.’
– Howard Golin, director of Wounded Warriors of South Florida
Bobby’s beginning chapters started
off like those of so many others from
Okeechobee. Born and raised here, graduated from Okeechobee High School
and fell in love fast with his high school
sweetheart. But that’s where the similarities end. His love story is unlike any
other, as well as the rest of his young
37 years.
“God takes you to where you are supposed to be,” Bobby said.
By Rachel Buxton
Photos by Sandra Pearce
And God has definitely done just that
to Bobby, starting with his high school
job. If it wasn’t for him spending his
afternoons and evenings working in the
produce section at the old U-Save, Bobby
may never have gotten to know his now
wife, Bianca.
“I always stared at her from produce,”
Bobby said, smiling. “She was a cashier
there, and I used to buy bubble gum just
to talk to her.”
After several failed attempts at asking
her out, Bianca finally said yes. The two
enjoyed a whirlwind romance, falling in
love very quickly. Bobby had just graduated high school, while Bianca still had
another year to go.
After summer ended, Bobby kissed
Bianca goodbye and headed to Macon,
Ga., to attend Mercer University. The
transition proved to be difficult, however.
“It was exactly 450 miles from my dorm
room to Bianca’s doorstep,” he said.
His heart couldn’t take the distance, so
during spring break Bobby packed up all
his things and never returned. He and
Bianca had big plans to get married and
start a family after she graduated; unfortunately, it didn’t work out as planned.
Bobby and Bianca ended up parting ways
but not because of lack of feelings.
“I hurt for a while,” Bobby said. “I was
so in love with Bianca, so in love.”
The next several years, Bobby tried to
make some sort of meaning out of life.
He went back to school and, when that
didn’t work out, moved to Massachusetts
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November/December 2015 | 27

veteran, and Bobby always had the utmost respect for his father
and what he had done and sacrificed for his country. But after
9/11, Bobby wasn’t sent to war; he was assigned to the 3rd
Reconnaissance Battalion in Okinawa, Japan.
Before heading off to Japan for almost seven years, Bobby made a
trip back home to Okeechobee, where he ran into Bianca. It was
as if no time had passed. The two were still very much in love.
“I owe a big thanks to her mother,” Bobby said. “She always
kept me fresh in Bianca’s mind.”
It was on Christmas night that Bobby asked Bianca to go to
Japan with him. Bianca spent the evening making her decision
and awaiting Bobby’s return the next morning to tell him yes.
Bobby, however, overslept — sending mixed signals to Bianca.
Before they had a chance to speak, Bianca was on a plane to New
York to visit a friend. That would be the last time they would
see each other for nine years, but little did they know how the
next nine years of each of their lives would in fact mirror the
other’s, keeping them very much connected.
Emails were sent occasionally. They discovered that they both
had gotten married and even had children born within days of

‘I wanted to do 20 years. I wanted to retire in the Marines.’
– Bobby Keefe Jr.
for a job his uncle had for him. But even
then he felt like something was missing.
“I had a great job but I still had a void,”
he said. “There was still something I
wanted.”
Then one day, Bobby made a move that
would change his life forever.
“I sat at my computer, typed in Marines,
filled out the contact form, and a recruiter
called me that night,” Bobby recalled.
28 | November/December 2015
Having kept in touch, Bianca begged
Bobby to reconsider, but he knew
this was what he wanted. He needed
a purpose, and the Marines gave that
to him. And on Feb. 26, 2001, Bobby
joined the U.S. Marine Corps, heading
to Parris Island for basic training.
Over the next several years, Bobby made
a life and career of being a Marine. He
completed several Military Occupational Specialty training courses and even
extended his training to become a re-
OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE
connaissance marine. It was during his
RECON training that 9/11 happened.
“We were told, ‘Your lives have just
changed forever,’” he said. “I knew I
needed to train as hard as I could, to be
as proficient as I could for what might
come after training.”
Bobby wasn’t afraid of going to war. In
fact, he believed it was something he
needed to do to fulfill his military duty.
His father, Robert Keefe Sr., is a Vietnam
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November/December 2015 | 29
Bobby recalled saying to the parents.
“That was my personal mission.”
Bobby kept that promise, with all his men
returning home safely. However, Bobby’s
safe return almost didn’t happen. While
in Afghanistan, he survived five separate
Improvised Explosive Device explosions.
The first four, he suffered various degrees
of concussions, but the fifth and final one
had his name on it.
December 5 & 6
The Living Christmas Tree
December 12
Fancy Nancy:
A Splendiferous Christmas
“December 16, 2010 was my lucky
day,” he said. “I remember the blast, I
remember hitting my head on the roof
of the truck. It squashed my spine like
an accordion and crunched my neck.”
Bobby had been taking part in a two-day
offload in one of the most dangerous
areas. The convoy consisted of almost
180 trucks. Bobby was in vehicle 63,
meaning 62 other vehicles had previously
driven over that same exact spot where
the IED went off.
December 17
A Christmas Carol
January 12
Live From Nashville
Bobby was flown to a hospital where he
recovered. At the time, his major injuries
were overlooked so he was released back
to his unit. Unable to participate in any
more missions due to pain, Bobby used
his downtime to connect with friends
back home, including Bianca. It was then
that they found out just how connected
they still were.
Bianca, Zane, Ricky, Leah, Bobby and Rocky.
‘I owe a big thanks to her mother. She always kept
me fresh in Bianca’s mind.’
– Bobby Keefe Jr.
each other. While in Japan, Bobby earned
a bachelor’s degree in psychology and
made the decision to become an officer.
“I wanted to do 20 years,” he said. “I
wanted to retire in the Marines.”
30 | November/December 2015
After returning home from Japan, Bobby
completed The Basic School and became
a logistics officer assigned to Combat
Logistics Battalion 2. CLB2 had orders
to deploy to Afghanistan. Bobby was
heading to combat.
OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE
In Afghanistan, Bobby served as a platoon
commander. Prior to deployment, Bobby
made a promise to the parents of the
young men in his platoon.
“I’m going to bring your kids home alive,”
Bianca shared with Bobby how on the
day of his accident she awoke abruptly
from a dream about him. She was in
excruciating pain. Immediately she knew
her dream was real.
Bobby returned to the States Feb. 6,
2011, where the extent of his injuries was
discovered. He had suffered a T12/L1
vertebrae compression fracture, deeming
him unfit for military duty. He was presented with the Purple Heart and the
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement
Medal for his service, and on Nov. 29,
2012, 1st Lt. Robert M. Keefe Jr. was
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medically discharged.
Prior to his discharge, Bobby and Bianca
had reunited after comforting each other
as they both went through difficult divorces. Bobby saw Bianca for the first
time in nine years in November 2011.
“I went by her house to see her,” he said.
“She said ‘Don’t go, kiss me.’ I had to
oblige, and that one kiss brought me
back.”
Following that kiss they have been together ever since. On June 23, 2012,
Bobby proposed to Bianca. He planned a
special evening with fireworks to be set off
when he got down on one knee, only they
failed to go off. Disappointed, Bobby
began walking until Bianca stopped him
and pulled him in close for a kiss.
Bobby, R. Lee Ermy, also known as “Gunny”, Bianca, Leah and Ricky after the Designing
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“As soon as our lips touched, the fireworks went off,” Bobby recalled.
Today they are a blended family with
three children, Zane and Leah, 11, and
Ricky, 5.
Another connection Bobby and Bianca
discovered after marriage is that they both
had a similar desire to open a wellness
center. With Bianca being a massage therapist and Bobby having studied psychology, they instantly knew they had to do
it. They started learning everything they
could about starting a business. They
worked with John Gurney, who was the
business assistance committee chairman
for the Chamber of Commerce at the
time.
“I was instantly drawn to Bobby and
Bianca because of their outgoing demeanor, obvious love for one another
and a strong desire to create a business
they could both share,” Gurney said.
“Bobby’s drive to succeed in the business
was evident, but he also wanted to do
good things for the community … ”
Together, they developed a business
plan, and it eventually evolved into The
Lounge at Sacred Sanctuary, a wellness
center that offers massages, life coaching
and alternative health options, such as
Reiki. They opened their doors Oct. 15,
2014, and haven’t looked back.
Bobby, unfortunately, didn’t get to
retire in the Marines as he had wanted;
however, he continues to serve in other
ways. He has worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs, helping other
veterans receive their benefits, and he is
also a Veteran to Veteran volunteer at the
Hospice of Okeechobee, where he visits
with other local veterans.
‘Bobby’s drive to
succeed in the business
was evident, but he
also wanted to do
good things for the
community …’
– John Gurney, local chamber
member who assisted Keefe in
establishing The Lounge at
Sacred Sanctuary
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And that’s exactly why, when Golin
was asked by the producers of the TV
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a disabled veteran deserving of a home
makeover, he recommended Bobby.
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desperate; too proud,” said Golin.
In March, R. Lee Ermy, better known
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came out to help renovate Bobby and
Bianca’s house, giving them a chance to
be on the much-deserved receiving end.
“I was very humbled,”
“I didn’t really feel
like I deserved this.”
Bobby is excited to see what will come
of The Warrior Center. In the meantime,
he will continue his Nicholas Sparks
romance with Bianca and will continue
being a Marine, maybe not a Marine
who’s able to fight but a Marine who’s
watching out for his fellow man and
community.
– Bobby Keefe Jr.
North Campus
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Okeechobee
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South Campus
4664 Hwy. 441 SE
Okeechobee
863.467.1400
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Today, Bobby only continues to reinforce
just why he did deserve that home makeover. His most recent venture has been
starting The Warrior Center, a nonprofit
organization dedicated to the support and
advocacy of our local warriors: veterans,
law enforcement, firefighters and first
responders. The Warrior Center offers
a safe, non-judgmental place for those
public safety workers to go and talk and
find resources to help them with anything
they may be going through.
“I can’t leave these fellow warriors out;
they need resources, too,” Bobby said
about including first responders. “I
wanted to put something together where
I can share something I have.”
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November/December 2015 | 35