World War II Honoree

Robert E. 'Rob' Prime

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE AFTER PASSING A QUALIFYING EXAM FOR THE NAVY V-12 OFFICER COLLEGE TRAINING PROGRAM. INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. NAVY AS AN APPRENTICE SEAMAN. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM WAS TO PROVIDE A COLLEGE-TRAINED POOL OF MEN TO SERVE AS OFFICERS. THE PROGRAM WAS BASICALLY A YEAR IN DURATION, AT ONE OF SOME 131 NAVY-CONTRACTED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE USA. COLLEGE PROGRAMS WERE CATEGORIZED INTO LINE, MEDICAL, DENTAL AND THEOLOGICAL UNITS, ACCORDING TO ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES NEEDED TO FILL NAVAL OFFICER DEMANDS. STUDENTS WERE REQUIRED TO WEAR THEIR SERVICE UNIFORMS AND PARTICIPATE IN A RIGOROUS PHYSICAL TRAINING REGIMEN, IN ADDITION TO THEIR ACADEMIC STUDIES. IN RETURN, THEY RECEIVED A STIPED OF $50 A MONTH. TUITION, BOOKS, FEES AND ROOM AND BOARD WAS PAID BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SENT TO LOUISIANA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE IN RUSTON, LOUISIANA. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER DURING THE WAR, AND WAS AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946, AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN. REENLISTED AND RETURNED TO ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE U.S. AIR FORCE AFTER THE WAR. HE WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT AND SERVED UNTIL AGAIN HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT.