World War II Honoree

Robert C. Ott

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Columbus, Indiana

Honored By

Carolyn Nell Ott Farris

Relationship

Sister

HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY ON JULY 31, 1943 AND REPORTED TO FORT BENJAMIN HARRIS, INDIANA AND THEN ON AUGUST 21, 1943 FOR ARMORED FORCES BASIC TRAINING. HE WAS SENT TO FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, ON FEBRUARY 4, 1944 FOR SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN THE M24 CHAFFEE LIGHT TANK. HE WAS THEN SENT TO FORT MEADE, MARYLAND. ON APRIL 5,1944 HE ARRIVED AT CAMP SHANKS, NEW YORK AND SHIPPED OUT ON APRIL 6, 1944 ABOARD A CONVOY AND SAILED TO REPLACEMENT CAMPS IN EUROPE. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 7TH ARMORED DIVISION, 31ST TANK BATTALION, COMPANY D AND PARTICIPATED IN THE CAMPAIGN OF NORTHERN FRANCE, THE RHINELAND CAMPAIGN, THE ARDENNES CAMPAIGN AND THE CAMPAIGN OF GERMANY AND CENTRAL EUROPE. ON AUGUST 1, 1945 HE LEFT THE EUROPEAN THEATER ON THE MONTCLAIR VICTORY AND ARRIVED IN BOSTON ON AUGUST 9, 1945. HE WAS RETURNED FOR RETRAINING WITH THE 44TH INFANTRY DIVISION FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN IN THE PACIFIC THEATER BUT THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC ENDED BEFORE HE WAS SHIPPED OUT. HE SEPARATED NOVEMBER 1, 1945 AT CAMP CHAFFEE, ARKANSAS.