Robert entered the Marine Corps on 28 November 1942. He was in boot camp at San Diego and later tank training at "Jacques Farm" outside San Diego. They trained on medium tanks at Camp Pendleton then shipped to New Caledonia with 1st Corp Medium Tank Battalion. Robert was assigned to the 2nd Marines in New Zealand for more training then went to the New Hebrides where they were combat loaded for Tarawa. He fought as a scout at Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, Okinawa, and participated in the occupation of Japan. He went ashore near Nagasaki as a bodygaurd/jeep driver for a Colonel who was going to visit a Jap Civilian Prison. He said the prison was full of, "...murderers and slobbering lunatics." All he and the Colonel wanted was to get the hell out of there. He never spoke much about the War until the last few years and would like to get in contact with his Marine buddies.
Robert is sittting in the jeep with the M1 carbine.
Send an Email:
copyright 2003 T.O.T.W.
Created 10 May 2003 - Updated 16 February 2005
Return to Index