World War II Honoree

Robert P. Daly

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Providence, Rhode Island

Honored By

Rita Daly

Relationship

Wife

DRAFTED FROM PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND ON FEBRUARY 12, 1944 AT FORT DEVANS, MASSACHUSETTS. HE PREPARED FOR INFANTRY COMBAT DUTY AS A RIFLEMAN AT CAMP VANDORN, MISSISSIPPI, AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 253RD INFANTRY DIVISION COMPANY L, KNOWN AS THE BLOOD AND FIRE DIVISION; TRAINED EXTENSIVELY IN FIELD BATTLES, SPEED MARCHES, AND INFILTRATION COURSES. REPORTED TO CAMP SHANKS, NEW YORK ON NOVEMBER 4, 1944 AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS. TRAVELED BY TROOP SHIP CONVOY ON NOVEMBER 25, 1944 FOR MARSEILLES, FRANCE ARRIVING ON DECEMBER 8,1944. HE CONTINUED ON THE FRONT LINE TO SARRENGLIE MINES, FRANCE ARRIVING ON DECEMBER 16, 1944 FOR COMBAT. WOUNDED JANAURY 23, 1944 FROM SHRAPNEL FROM AN 88 GERMAN TANK SHELL, IN THE BATTLE OF THE RHINELAND. THE TROOPS WERE PINNED DOWN ON THE HILL FOR 16 HOURS IN THE BITTER COLD. SUFFERING FROM SHRAPNEL WOUNDS AND FROSTBITE HE WAS BROUGHT TO AN AIDE STATION AND TRANSFERRED TO REIMS, FRANCE WHERE HE WAS AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE, THE PURPLE HEART AND THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER RIBBON WITH ONE BRONZE STAR. RETURNED TO THE UNITED SATES CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL AT CAMP BUTNER, NORTH CAROLINA UNTIL HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1945.