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Robert ‘Doc’ Pinkham, Private First Class E2
Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis 2018 Mentor and Transportation Coordinator

Robert joined the Army on September 11, 2003, as a Combat Medic (91W). He left home and flew for the first time to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Basic training was a life changing experience for him, giving him the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. After basic training he went to Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Sam Houston, and was assigned to F Company 232 Medical Battalion. He became a medic on the advice of his Grandmother (Nonie), she was one of the smartest and loving people in his life. She told him that he should become a nurse. He listened to her and as ever, she was right.

Robert’s first deployment was to Baghdad, Iraq, in 2005-2006 OIF IV. It was at that point he realized how shielded he was from certain issues such as poverty and war. His deployment was a combination of being a line medic and an aid station medic. He deployed again in 2007-2008, this time to Tikrit, Iraq. This deployment really changed his life, he came home a different person. Robert witnessed first hand the ravages of war and Al Qaeda, seeing civilians, their children, and several of his friends and fellow soldiers give the ultimate sacrifice, their lives.

He was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during his first deployment, and he struggled with it for the rest of his time in the Army. He was diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in 2008. Robert’s physical injuries from exposure to an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) have taken a toll on him, and have been progressively worsening.

Robert grew up in the small town of Carthage in Northern New York. He grew up around motorcycles and cars, and remembers when he was young watching his father ride his motorcycle, and thinking to himself how cool it sounded and looked. Robert started riding when he was 8 years old. He learned how to ride on an old Yamaha 100c dirt bike. His first move to pavement was when he bought a brand new 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650 after his first deployment, it was a present to himself.

Robert joined the Veterans Charity Ride (VCR) family as a participant in our Year Round MC Therapy Program and our VCR to Sturgis 2017 Program. It was a life changing experience for him, making new friends for life. Returning as a Mentor and Transportation Coordinator for Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis 2018, Robert is ready to help the new veterans find the camaraderie and the peace that he found last year.

“It’s nice being with a group that we’ve all been through similar experiences, we’ve seen the same things, we’ve felt the same way, it’s a brotherhood…“Riding to me is the most therapeutic release for all the issues that plague me. I am so grateful to Veterans Charity Ride and Indian Motorcycle, for the opportunity they have given me for this adventure of a lifetime.”
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  • Home
  • About Us
  • How to Help
  • Testimonials
  • Gallery
    • Photo Gallery
    • Watch VCR Videos
  • Rides & Programs
    • About the Rides
    • Ride Routes
    • Sign Up a Veteran
    • MEET THE VETERANS >
      • 2022 Grand Valley >
        • 2022 Veteran Mentors >
          • Dave Frey 2022
          • DaKoda Antelope
          • Richard “Tony” Doyle
          • David Green
        • 2022 Veteran Riders & Sidecar Passengers >
          • Guy Bond
          • Jeremy Breece
          • Timothy Cloud
          • Stephen Nester
          • Brian Sayer
      • 2022 Moab Adventure >
        • 2022 Veteran Mentors >
          • Dave Frey 2022
          • Denver Braa 2022
          • Paul Kilgore 2022
          • RYAN LUNDBOHM 2022
        • 2022 Veteran Riders & Sidecar Passengers >
          • BRENNA MATTHIES
          • KERRY CHARTIER
          • MICHAEL J. BROOKS
          • DONALD F. TYNDALL
          • KELLY CHARTIER
      • 2022 Veterans (Durango) >
        • 2022 Veteran Mentors >
          • Denver Braa 2022
          • JOEL MCCOLLOUGH
          • MILT YAGEL 2022
          • Dave Frey 2022
        • 2022 Veteran Riders & Sidecar Passengers >
          • JAN GOKLISH-STEVENS
          • DAVID GREEN
          • BRANDON LANGSTON
          • MATT MARTIN
          • ZACHARY PEDERSEN
          • JARED POSEY
      • 2021 Veterans >
        • 2021 Veteran Mentors >
          • Denver Braa 2021
          • Dave Frey 2021
          • Kaylan Harrington 2021
          • Keith Helfrich 2021
          • Marylyn Sabol 2021
          • Jared Thomas 2021
          • Darius Wallace 2021
          • John Wood AKA Johnny Killmore 2021
        • 2021 Veteran Riders & Sidecar Passengers >
          • Khara Ann Adams
          • Patrick Amie
          • Cameron High
          • Justin Hopkinson
          • RJ Lugo
          • Joe Martinez
          • Christopher Wolff
          • Milt Yagel
      • 2020 Veterans >
        • Veteran Riders & Sidecar Passengers >
          • Anthony Wick
          • Carlos Da Silva
          • Dakoda Antelope
          • Darius Wallace
          • Denver Braa
          • Lonnie Sutterfield
        • Veteran Mentors >
          • Chad Morris
          • Dave Frey
          • Jared Thomas
          • John Wood AKA Johnny Killmore
          • Josh Stein
          • Keith Helfrich
          • Marylyn Sabol
          • Paul Kilgore
      • 2019 Veterans >
        • Veteran Riders & Sidecar Passengers >
          • Chad Morris
          • Eric Dober
          • Fouad Mohaideen
          • Jana Rodriguez
          • Kenneth Toone
          • Loyce Siegel
          • Matthew Zajac
          • Paul Kilgore
        • Veteran Mentors >
          • Keith Helfrich
          • Kaylan Harrington
          • John Wood AKA Johnny Killmore
          • Jared Thomas
          • Eric Morante
        • Veteran Support Staff & Crew >
          • Dave Frey
          • Anthony Indrieri
          • John Austin
      • 2018 Veterans >
        • Veteran Riders & Sidecar Passengers >
          • David Camargo
          • Eric Morante
          • Fred Ruiz
          • Kaylan Harrington
          • Keith Shoulders
          • Matthew White
          • Samuel Rosales
          • Ermin Husidic
          • Jared Thomas
        • Veteran Mentors >
          • Keith Helfrich
          • Moses Sonera
          • Ian Freeman
          • Rich Neider
          • Robert Pinkham
          • John Wood AKA Johnny Killmore
        • Veteran Support Staff & Crew >
          • Dave Frey
          • Anthony Indrieri
          • John Austin
      • 2017 Veterans >
        • 2017 “Hero’s Ride of a Lifetime” Selections >
          • Neil Frustaglio
          • Josh Stein
        • Veteran Riders & Sidecar Passengers >
          • Shane Dorwin
          • James Felix
          • Richard Neider
          • Lisa Niner
          • Robert Pinkham
          • Richard Silva
          • Moses Sonera
          • John Wood
        • Veteran Mentors >
          • Keith Helfrich
          • Dave "Max" Maxwell
          • Justin "Wardog" McCarty
        • Veteran Support Staff & Crew >
          • Dave Frey
          • Ian Freeman
          • Bob Hudson
          • Cat Macleod
          • Jonathan Shelgosh
          • Damon Suiter
          • Jim Whittum
      • 2016 Veterans >
        • Mentors >
          • Dave "Max" Maxwell
          • Sean Carroll
          • Virgi Bondi
          • George Nickel
          • Tommy Montgomery
          • Glen Silva
          • Jorge Hernandez
        • “Hero’s Ride of a Lifetime” Selections >
          • Keith Helfrich
          • Jedidiah (Jed) Morgan
        • Veterans Riders >
          • Ian Freeman
          • Justin McCarty
          • Constance Heinz
          • Evan Marcy
          • Marylyn Sabol
          • Steve Wichers
          • Dom Figiel
          • Nick "Razor" Razzano
          • Mike Brown
          • Damon Suiter
          • Tom Junier
  • News
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  • Donate
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