He was a fighter pilot, a POW for 2,136 days, a fighter pilot again, and then a legal officer before retiring from the Air Force Sep 5, 1991.
Since leaving the USAF, he has been a lawyer in Michigan.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Robert Archie Abbott (AFSN: FR-81453), United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-105 Pilot serving with the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, in Southeast Asia on 30 April 1967. On that date, Lieutenant Abbott was a member of a surface-to-air missile suppression flight protecting a strike force of fighter-bombers which were to strike a vital transformer in a heavily defended area. When a hostile interceptor downed Lieutenant Abbott's leader, he gave little thought to his own personal safety and established a RESCAP orbit over the downed aircrew. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Abbott has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain Robert Archie Abbott (AFSN: FR-81453), United States Air Force, for gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force during May 1967, while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. Ignoring international agreements on treatment of prisoners of war, the enemy resorted to mental and physical cruelties to obtain information, confessions, and propaganda materials. Captain Abbott resisted their demands by calling upon his deepest inner strengths in a manner which reflected his devotion to duty and great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
