World War II Honoree

Robert I. Cooley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Saginaw, Michigan

Honored By

Jack W. Cooley Lown

Relationship

Brother

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY IN JANUARY 1940 FROM SAGINAW, MICHIGAN. TOOK BASIC TRAINING AT FORT WAYNE, MICHIGAN AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 5TH INFANTRY DIVISION RED DIAMONDS AT FORT CUSTER, MICHIGAN. FEBRUARY 1942, UNIT WAS POSTED TO ICELAND AND IN JULY 1943 TRANSFERRED TO ENGLAND. JULY 1944, SENT TO NORMANDY AND PARTICIPATED IN MANY CAMPAIGNS. WOUNDED IN SEPTEMBER 1944 AT METZ, FRANCE WHERE HE WAS SERVING AS A PLATOON SERGEANT. SENT BACK TO ENGLAND TO RECUPERATE AND LATER RETURNED TO HIS UNIT, THE 5TH INFANTRY DIVISION, COMPANY E, 2ND INFANTRY. PARTICIPATED IN CAMPAIGNS IN NORMANDY, SOUTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE. AWARDS AND MEDALS INCLUDE THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, SILVER STAR, PURPLE HEART, BRONZE STAR, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH ONE SILVER STAR AND SIX OVERSEAS BARS. TECHNICAL SERGEANT WHEN SEPARATED FROM SERVICE IN JUNE 1945 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS.