SGT Robert Robbins USA
April 14, 1980 – July 2, 2020
OIF Operation Iraqi Freedom / War on Global Terrorism / Liberation of Kuwait
HSI Senior Special Agent
It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the sad loss of our fun-loving and wonderful jokester, Robert Robbins. Robert was born in San Diego, CA, and moved to the Imperial Valley in 1994 with his family where he attended Southwest High School in El Centro. Shortly after graduating from high school, Robert joined the United States Army. He served his country proudly in the Iraq War and returned home to Imperial after he completed his service to be a full-time single dad of his only son, at the time, and best friend Anthony. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from SDSU, which he put towards his goal of becoming a federal agent for HSI. Robert was a special agent for 11 years and was assigned to the HSI ASAC Calexico, CA, office where he tirelessly worked safeguarding the community and country that he loved.
Robert later met the love of his life, Vanessa and they were married on May 10th, 2014. Together they raised his son Anthony and then welcomed Jacob and Savannah to their already beautiful family. He will be deeply missed by his wife, his three young children, parents, his sisters, extended family, and many friends. Robert was known for having a big heart, being fun loving, and taking care of everyone before thinking of himself. To know him was to know that you were never friendless.
Robert loved fishing, working out, law enforcement, all his family, and his friends. He was a Christian man who loved life and making others laugh. Robert leaves behind a great void in our hearts and will be missed by all who knew him.
Rob served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the War on Global Terrorism, and the Kuwait Liberation. He was part of the effort to seize the castle of Sadam Hussain, and they called it HQ. When he returned from war, he tried to hide it, but now looking back, the puzzle pieces fall into place. He hit the ground running – all positive efforts, but it was like he couldn’t stop or he would crash. He joined the Army at age 20 and was released at age 24. He obtained custody of his son from his first marriage and started coaching HS wrestling and became a Cross Fit guru. He got his degree and started working as a counselor for the Rite Track program for troubled youth. He then became a Juvenile Probation Officer and served his last 7 years as a Senior Special Agent with HSI. I believe he kept moving to combat the demons of war. He never slept right after his return. Sadly, when COVID hit and we were all shut in, he lost his coping mechanisms, and we lost him.
This year we celebrated his birthday with his coworkers, friends, and family And I realized as tragic as this is, this man truly lived a life of service. How do I mourn his death and not celebrate the life he lived? He was home 15 years, and although not perfect, he tried so hard to help everyone and keep moving, but the battlefield of his minds raged on.
California and Texas are home. He was born in San Diego, raised in the Imperial Valley, CA, stationed at Ft. Hood, TX, and his eldest son was born in Texas.
