Robert L. Sholl was born on January 19, 1936 to Walter and Alde Sholl who lived in Kimberton, Pennsylvania. Robert was one of four children. His father was a farmer.

Robert enlisted in the National Guard, then the Air Cadets. He was sent to finish his college education at the University of Omaha, Nebraska, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree.

Captain Robert Sholl enlisted in the Air Force in September 1953, taking his Basic at Sampson AFB, New York.

Robert served with the 634th Combat Support Group flying A-26 medium bombers. They served as special operations, during Vietnam. The unit was described by Michael E. Hass Col. USAF Retired who wrote of Apollo’s Warriors:

“The secretive world of military ‘special operations’ is filled with men and women whose dedication, self-sacrifice, and heroism on behalf of their country is seldom acknowledged in public. The thing about the Air Commandos is that you don’t need them very often. But when you do, you tend to need them very badly.”