World War II Honoree

Robert A. White

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lawton, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 100TH INFANTRY 'CENTURY' DIVISION. HIS DIVISION PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. LANDED WITH HIS DIVISION AT MARSEILLE, FRANCE ON OCTOBER 20, 1944. MOVED TO THE VICINITY OF LEMBERG, FRANCE AND BEGAN TO ESTABLISH DEFENSIVE POSITIONS ON HILL 419. WOUNDED IN ACTION ON DECEMBER 8, 1944 DURING A GERMAN ATTACK SUPPORTED BY 20MM FLAK GUNS. HIT IN HIS ARMS, LEFT HAND AND BACK, HE CALLED FOR A MEDIC BUT NO HELP WAS FORTHCOMING. THE GERMAN ATTACK CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT WITH HEAVY CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES. HE SURVIVED BY CRAWLING INTO A HOLE AND PLAYING DEAD. ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 9, 1944, DAYLIGHT REVEALED THAT THE POSITION WAS COVERED WITH THE DEAD AND DYING. HIS CALLS FOR A MEDIC AGAIN WENT UNANSWERED AND HE CALLED OUT TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE IN HIS PLATOON WAS ALIVE. SIX OF THE 36-MAN PLATOON WERE ALL THAT REMAINED. AS THE SENIOR NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER, HE ORDERED HIS MEN TO MOVE OUT IN AN ATTEMPT TO REJOIN OTHER FRIENDLY FORCES. WHILE CROSSING A FIELD, HIS ELEMENT CAME UNDER CONTINUOUS ENEMY MORTAR FIRE. HE WAS AGAIN WOUNDED IN ACTION, THIS TIME BY SHRAPNEL IN HIS LEFT LEG AND ANKLE. DISREGARDING HIS WOUNDS, HE CARRIED ANOTHER WOUNDED SOLDIER TO SAFETY. A COMPANY MEDIC TREATED HIS WOUNDS AND HE WAS RETURNED TO DUTY AS 'WALKING WOUNDED.' DURING THE ATTACK ON HILL 419, HIS PLATOON SUFFERED 13 KILLED IN ACTION AND 15 CAPTURED. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. CONTINUED IN U.S. ARMY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR.