- Date Of Birth: August 25, 1928
- Date Of Death: January 6, 2011
- State: Maine
Robert Elton Fales was born in Wilton, ME on August 25, 1928. He was the second of five children to Charles and Ethel Fales. He lived in Dryden, ME until the age of 12, at which time his family moved to Fairfield, ME in the interest of better work opportunities for Charles. Robert took an interest in raising chickens, which followed through to presenting prize-winning roosters at county fairs later in life. He would later tell his own children of his beloved Wilton and Fairfield memories including humorous stories of boys getting into mischief. Robert was voted President of his senior class at Lawrence High School in Fairfield and graduated in 1946. Shortly after graduating, at the age of 17, Robert enlisted in the Marine Corp. during World War II, where he promptly found himself in boot camp on Parris Island, SC. He quickly grew accustomed to this new life and excelled in the skills of marksmanship and discipline, taking full advantage of the mental and physical training. Finishing his tour of duty, Robert took advantage of the G.I. Bill and went to the University of Maine in Brunswick, but only to answer the call of duty again and enlist in the Army during the Korean War. Stationed in Eastern Europe as an O.S.S agent (predecessor to the C.I.A) he was quickly recognized for his potential and was offered a position in the C.I.A. After careful consideration, he made the choice to finish his college studies where he graduated from the University of Maine with a B.A. in political science in 1955. While at UMO, Robert met Patricia Parsons; little did he know this was the start of a long life together. The two were married at St. Patrick’s Church in Newcastle, ME on June 4, 1955.
