World War II Honoree

Robert W. Welborn

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

Robert W. Welborn Jr. & LTC Charles T. Borg, USA (Ret.)

ENTERED SERVICE JULY 1942 AND TRAINED AS AN INFANTRYMAN AND COMMUNICATIONS/ MESSAGE CENTER OPERATOR. JOINED 29TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN NORMANDY IN JUNE 1944, A FEW DAYS AFTER THE D-DAY INVASION. ADVANCED IN NORTHERN FRANCE DURING JULY AND AUGUST 1944. BY DECEMBER 1944, ADVANCED EASTWARD TO THE RUHR RIVER AND TOOK UP DEFENSIVE POSITIONS AGAINST THE GERMAN WINTER OFFENSIVE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE). CROSSED THE RUHR TO CAPTURE THE CITY OF AACHEN. WOUNDED IN ACTION AT AACHEN AND WAS HOSPITALIZED AND LATER RETURNED TO THE UNIT. MOVED EASTWARD TO THE ELBE RIVER TO LINK UP WITH THE SOVIET ARMY. GERMANY SURRENDERED IN EARLY MAY 1945. HAD OCCUPATION DUTIES UNTIL AUGUST 1945. SHIPPED BACK TO THE UNITED STATES AND WAS DISCHARGED AT FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON IN SEPTEMBER 1945. EARNED BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH V, PURPLE HEART MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL AND DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION.