Robert Carmody
Encyclopedia
Robert John Carmody was an American boxer
whose career, which had included a bronze medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo
as part of the flyweight division, was cut short when he was killed in action serving with the United States Army in the Vietnam War
.
, Carmody learned his trade in street fights near his home before joining the Army in 1957 and signing up for boxing classes with a close friend.
in 1958. In 1961, Carmody won his first All-Army flyweight boxing title, retaining it for the next four years until 1965. He also won the International Military Sports Council title in 1962 and garnered a bronze at the 1963 Pan American Games
.
Attending the Olympic trials at the 1964 New York World's Fair
the following year, Carmody won a shock victory over the favored Melvin Miller to secure a place on the 1964 Olympic team. At the training camp, Carmody formed a close friendship with Joe Frazier
, at one point reportedly talking Frazier out of quitting the sport following an unexpected defeat. At the Olympics Carmody suffered a bruised hand, but still beat the Nepalese Thapa Namsing and the German Otto Babiasch
before losing in the semi-finals to the eventual winner Fernando Atzori
, thus claiming a bronze medal.
for his valor during the ambush. Many tributes were offered following his death from soldiers and sportsmen alike who had known and respected him during his career.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
whose career, which had included a bronze medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
as part of the flyweight division, was cut short when he was killed in action serving with the United States Army in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
Early life
Born in 1938 to lower class parents in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, Carmody learned his trade in street fights near his home before joining the Army in 1957 and signing up for boxing classes with a close friend.
Amateur career
Carmody proved a natural, and was quickly chosen to represent the 11th Airborne Division, continuing in this position after their deployment to GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1958. In 1961, Carmody won his first All-Army flyweight boxing title, retaining it for the next four years until 1965. He also won the International Military Sports Council title in 1962 and garnered a bronze at the 1963 Pan American Games
Boxing at the 1963 Pan American Games
The Men's Boxing Tournament at the 1963 Pan American Games was held in São Paulo, Brazil, from April 20 to May 5.- Medal winners :-Medal table:-External links:*...
.
Attending the Olympic trials at the 1964 New York World's Fair
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
the following year, Carmody won a shock victory over the favored Melvin Miller to secure a place on the 1964 Olympic team. At the training camp, Carmody formed a close friendship with Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier
Joseph William "Joe" Frazier , also known as Smokin' Joe, was an Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a one-fight comeback in 1981....
, at one point reportedly talking Frazier out of quitting the sport following an unexpected defeat. At the Olympics Carmody suffered a bruised hand, but still beat the Nepalese Thapa Namsing and the German Otto Babiasch
Otto Babiasch
Otto Babiasch is a German former boxer who won the bronze medal at the 1961 European Amateur Boxing Championships in the flyweight category, representing East Germany. He competended for the SC Dynamo Berlin/ Sportvereinigung Dynamo....
before losing in the semi-finals to the eventual winner Fernando Atzori
Fernando Atzori
Fernando Atzori is a former professional boxer, and olympic boxing gold medalist from Italy.- Amateur career :...
, thus claiming a bronze medal.
Olympic results
- first-round bye
- Defeated Thapa Namsing (Nepal) RSC
- Defeated Otto BabiaschOtto BabiaschOtto Babiasch is a German former boxer who won the bronze medal at the 1961 European Amateur Boxing Championships in the flyweight category, representing East Germany. He competended for the SC Dynamo Berlin/ Sportvereinigung Dynamo....
(Unified Team of Germany) 4–1 - Lost to Fernando AtzoriFernando AtzoriFernando Atzori is a former professional boxer, and olympic boxing gold medalist from Italy.- Amateur career :...
(Italy) 1–4
Outside the ring
After the Olympics, Carmody met and married Merry Sykes in Germany, and the two settled down into army family life, Robert and Merry had two children, Terri a daughter who lives in Roseville, CA and Robert Jr. a son who lives in Reno, NV with Carmody training several boxing teams at the International Military Sports Council games, including the U.S. Army squad and the Iraqi army boxing team.Death
In June 1967 Carmody was called up to go to Vietnam with his unit, D Troop of the U.S. 17th Cavalry Regiment. Despite pleas from his friends not to go as he was not sufficiently combat trained as a result of his boxing career, Carmody insisted on deploying with his unit. Several weeks after arriving, while on a routine six-man foot patrol just to the north of Saigon, Viet Cong guerillas ambushed the squad and killed five of the six men, the single survivor reaching safety after an arduous journey of eleven hours. Among the dead was Staff Sergeant Carmody, who was posthumously awarded the Bronze StarBronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
for his valor during the ambush. Many tributes were offered following his death from soldiers and sportsmen alike who had known and respected him during his career.