World War II Honoree

Robert Lawrence Eichelberger

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Asheville, North Carolina

Honored By

Herbert 'Herb' Bannerman

SUPERINTENDENT OF WEST POINT, 1940. LEFT IN 1942 FOR ACTIVE DUTY AND APPOINTED LIEUTENANT GENERAL; OCTOBER 15, 1942. NOTED FOR INTREPIDITY, IRON WILL AND INTELLECT, COMMANDER OF 'I' CORPS. TOOK AMERICAN AND AUSTRALIAN TROOPS INTO PAPUAN NEW GUINEA'S OFFENSIVE UPON BUNA FROM DECEMBER 1942, FINALLY TAKING BUNA-SANANANDA, JANUARY 3, 1943. COMMANDED BOTH 41ST AND 32ND INFANTRY DIVISIONS AND WEST DUTCH NEW GUINEA OPERATIONS AGAINST WELL SITUATED AND STUBBORN JAPANESE FORCES FROM AITAPE-HOLLANDIA, THROUGH THE BIAK ISLAND OPERATIONS. COMMANDED THE U.S. 8TH ARMY DURING THE PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGNS OF MINDORO, MARINDUQUE, PANAY, NEGROS, CEBU AND BOHOL TO THE FINAL DEFEAT OF JAPANESE FORCES IN MINDANAO BY JULY 1945. AWARDED DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, ARMY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL WITH 3 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, NAVY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, SILVER STAR WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS (G.O. NUMBER 343, 1945) AND LEGION OF MERIT.