When Father Bob Swick sits down to talk, you immediately notice two things: his deep humility and his unwavering commitment to serving others. An eight-year Marine Corps veteran, Purple Heart recipient, Old Catholic priest, and commander of the Dunedin and Clearwater chapters of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Father Bob has dedicated his life to lifting up those in need.
On a recent episode of the Don’t Do Nothing podcast, Father Bob shared his extraordinary journey from the jungles of Vietnam to the pulpit, offering a masterclass in faith, resilience, and actionable kindness.
The Experience of Vietnam
Father Bob’s story of service began in the early 1960s at the University of Scranton, where he enrolled in the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class. After graduating and earning his lieutenant’s bars at Quantico, Virginia, his officer training at The Basic School was cut from six months to 90 days to meet urgent troop demands overseas.
“I was one of those, quote, ’90-day wonders,’ and went to Vietnam,” Father Bob recalled. “I mean, you talk about being green, holy moly. It was quite an experience.”
During his 13-month tour in Vietnam, Father Bob served with both the First Reconnaissance Battalion at Chu Lai and the Second Battalion, Fifth Marines at An Hoa. Near the end of his tour, he volunteered for one final mission and was wounded in battle. He was medevaced out of Vietnam just five days before he was scheduled to rotate home.
Even while injured on the C-130 evacuation flight to California, Father Bob’s instinct was to help others, assisting flight nurses with emergency procedures to keep fellow wounded service members alive.
Following his recovery, Father Bob served two years in Japan, where he met his wife, Masuko. Her family lineage in Hiroshima traced back to the samurai, though her parents tragically died from radiation after the atomic bomb. Returning to the United States in 1969, Father Bob served as a company commander at Camp Lejeune before transitioning into a successful civilian business career.
A Faith Reimagined and Ordination at 70
Though raised Roman Catholic, Father Bob’s personal faith journey experienced twists and turns over the years. The turning point came on his 15th wedding anniversary with the birth and baptism of his daughter. Re-engaging with his local church, he spent 20 years teaching religious education and ministering to inmates in Pinellas County jails.
However, witnessing rigid religious boundaries led him to re-evaluate his path. While bringing communion to incarcerated individuals, he found himself choosing compassion over strict institutional mandates.
“I kept saying to myself, ‘I know what the Roman Church wants me to do… But what would Jesus do?’” Father Bob reflected. “He met with the prostitutes. He met with the tax collectors. He met with the lower society, constantly bringing them to God.”
Seeking a more inclusive tradition, Father Bob embraced Old Catholicism—a faith rooted in early Christian traditions that welcomes married and female clergy and emphasizes consensus and community. At age 70, he was ordained into the priesthood, entering a new chapter of ministry that has spanned more than 14 years.
A Pillar for Veterans and the Community
Today, Father Bob’s parish, St. Francis of Assisi, reflects his open-hearted philosophy. Named after the patron saint who saw divinity in all creatures, Father Bob regularly hosts pet blessings and encourages parishioners to bring their dogs to church.
His work in the community extends far beyond the altar. Father Bob served 20 years as a volunteer senior chaplain with the Clearwater Police Department and helped establish the Florida Veterans Coalition to assist transitioning service members.
As national chaplain for the Red Star Foundation, he works tirelessly to support families who have lost loved ones to suicide. He also holds weekly Mass at Narconon Suncoast, supporting veterans and individuals working through addiction recovery.
For Father Bob, true spirituality isn’t defined by titles or doctrine, but by active, tangible love.
“If you express you believe in a God, it has to be shown through your actions,” Father Bob explained. “In the Marine Corps, you gotta walk the walk… In doing so, you influence the goodness of other people.”
Walking the Walk
Whether paying for a stranger’s groceries or providing a listening ear to a struggling veteran, Father Bob believes that small acts of grace hold transformative power.
When asked what core message drives his life, Father Bob’s answer is simple, uplifting, and clear:
“Every Mass that I have, every service that I perform, whenever I’m able to, I always conclude with saying, ‘Do a random act of kindness.’ Try to reach out. Try to be kind. Why not? It doesn’t cost a penny.”
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