World War II Honoree

Robert D. 'Bob' Plumlee

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Springdale, Arkansas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE SOON AFTER THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR. HIS BATTALION SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON NOVEMBER 15, 1943 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON NOVEMBER 20, 1943. SERVED AS A MACHINE GUNNER OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 413TH ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLERY (AAA) GUN BATTALION. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HIS UNIT LANDED AT OMAHA BEACH IN NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JUNE 7, 1944 (D-DAY +1). DURING MOVEMENT TO THE SHORE, THE 22-YEAR OLD SOLDIER'S LANDING SHIP WAS DISABLED BY GERMAN FIRE AND LEFT STRANDED IN THE WATER. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, HIS DISABLED CRAFT WAS TOWED TO SHORE AND HIS UNIT DISEMBARKED. THE SCENE THAT CONFRONTED HIM WAS ONE OF UNBELIEVABLE CARNAGE WITH THE BODIES OF AMERICAN DEAD LITTERING THE SHORELINE. HIS UNIT ADVANCED ACROSS FRANCE INTO BELGIUM IN A SERIES OF BATTLES AND WAS THEN ENGAGED IN INTENSE COMBAT DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, WHICH HE DEEMED THE WORST OF HIS WAR EXPERIENCES. THE CONFLICT SEEMED TO HIM TO BE AN ENDLESS SERIES OF NARROW ESCAPES. ONE SUCH CASE WAS WHEN HIS UNIT CROSSED A DAMAGED BRIDGE AT REMAGEN, GERMANY. MINUTES AFTER THEY CROSSED, THE BRIDGE COLLAPSED, KILLING TROOPS ON IT AT THE TIME. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD DEVICE AND 1 SILVER SERVICE STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. HIS BATTALION WAS CITED IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY OF THE BELGIAN ARMY FOR ACTIONS IN THE ARDENNES DURING THE PERIOD DECEMBER 20, 1944 TO JANUARY 26, 1945. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.