World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
Robert J. Bilodeau
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Douglas, Massachusetts
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE ON AUGUST 13, 1943. ONE OF THE ‘BOYS OF DOUGLAS’ WHO SERVED DURING THE WAR. HIS REGIMENT STAGED AT CAMP KILMER AT STELTON, NEW JERSEY ON JANUARY 8, 1944 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JANUARY 18, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON JANUARY 29, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER IN FRANCE, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) WITH THE 22ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, 4TH INFANTRY 'IVY' DIVISION, 1ST U.S. ARMY. HIS REGIMENT ASSAULTED ACROSS UTAH BEACH IN NORMANDY, FRANCE DURING THE D-DAY INVASION ON JUNE 6, 1944. HIS UNIT ENTERED SAINT MERE EGLISE THE SAME DAY AND COUNTERED SEVERAL GERMAN ATTACKS THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE REGIMENT ATTACKED ALONG THE COTENTIN PENINSULA TOWARD THE PORT CITY OF CHERBOURG ON JUNE 8, 1944, AND TOOK THE AZEVILLE FORT AND OZEVILLE ON JUNE 9, 1944. HIS REGIMENT REACHED CHERBOURG AND ATTACKED ON JUNE 22, 1944 AND BREACHED THE CITY DEFENSES ON JUNE 25, 1944. PRIVATE BILODEAU WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON JUNE 27, 1944 DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS AT CHERBOURG, FRANCE WITH HIS REGIMENT DURING THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD (AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT LANDING) AND 1 BRONZE SERVICE STAR (1 CAMPAIGN), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.