World War II Honoree

Robert E. Hirsch

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Townsend, Massachusetts

Honored By

Charles B. Church III

ENTERED THE UNITED STATES ARMY FROM LUNENBURG, MASSACHUSETTS IN 1944. BASIC TRAINING AT FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY. HAD FURTHER TRAINING AS A TANK MECHANIC. TOOK A TROOP TRANSPORT SHIP TO FRANCE AS THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE COMMENCED. ASSIGNED AS A TANK DRIVER WITH THE 9TH ARMORED DIVISION. UNIT WAS REASSIGNED TO BELGIUM AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA. WHEN THE WAR WAS OVER, RETURNED VIA SHIP BACK TO THE U.S. AND SERVED ON COOK DUTY AND AS A TRUCK MECHANIC IN TENNESSEE, TEXAS AND IN THE MIDWEST, BEFORE RETURNING TO MASSACHUSETTS. AWARDS INCLUDE; WWII VICTORY MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT THE RANK OF T/5 IN 1945.