9/14/1930 – 8/31/2021 Branch: Marines Rank: Sgt. Unit: 7th Outfit: 1st Service Dates: 1948 – 1951 County: St. Louis Conflicts/Significant Events: Nik joined the Marine Corps in November 1948 and was wounded in Korea, December 3, 1950 sustaining leg and head injuries, losing his eye as well as suffering severe frostbite of his extremities. He received a Purple Heart for his injuries. Nick was honorably discharged from the Marines in September 1951. His name is engraved on The Chosin Few Monument in Forest Park, St. Louis next to the Korean War Veterans Association Memorial. Story uploaded: Friday, September 25, 2009 / Updated May 7, 2023
1/7/1921 – 1/25/2022 Branch: Army Air Corps Rank: Lieutenant Unit: 766th Squadron Outfit: 15th Air Force 461st Heavy Bombardment Group Service Dates: 1942 – 1944 County: St. Louis City: St. Louis, MO Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II, POW, Shot Down Over Italy on 13th Mission Story uploaded: Sunday, November 11, 2007 / updated: Tuesday, March 14, 2023
1/8/1918 – 1/17/2020 Branch: Army Rank: PFC Unit: 121st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron Outfit: Troop B Service Dates: 1944-06-05 – 1945-11-11 Veteran Station: St. Louis County: St. Louis Drafted Medals: Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Infantry Badge, German Army of Occupation Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II, Rhineland and Central Europe Story Uploaded Tuesday, May 8, 2007/Modified Monday, January 23rd, 2023
Branch: Navy Rank: ETM 3rd Class Unit: Electronics Technicians Mate Service Dates: 1944 – 1946 County: St. Louis City City: St. Louis, MO Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II Stationed on the USS Cero & The USS Balao
Story uploaded/modified: Sunday, December 7, 2008/Monday April 25th, 2022
Bob volunteered in the United States Navy where he was active duty from 1944 to 1946. There he studied electronics and graduated from the U.S. Navy’s submarine school with the rank of ETM3c (Electronic Technician’s Mate) in January, 1946. He schooled at NTC Great Lakes, IL; NTSCH Michigan City, IN; NTC (EE& RM) Gulfport, MS; NTSCH Navy Pier Chicago, IL, and PSC Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. While at Great Lakes Naval Training Station Robert volunteered for the drum and bugle corps. Robert’s first assignment was the submarine USS Cero, a Gato-class submarine in drydock for overhaul at New London, CT, and then on the USS Balao, the lead ship of the Balao-class of submarines based out of Portsmouth, NH. On the USS Balao, Robert worked in communications (the wireless room), which included the ship’s radar. In his free time aboard ship, Robert took correspondence courses through the United States Armed Forces Institute. The USS Balao patrolled the Atlantic looking for Japanese subs until the cessation of war with the surrender of Japan in August of 1945. On June 15, 1946 Robert was honorably discharged at the U.S.N. Personnel Separation Center in Lido Beach, Long Island, NY. (Incidentally, the USS Balao later enjoyed stardom in 1959 when it was featured as the pink-painted submarine in the Cary Grant comedy Operation Petticoat while based out of Key West. It returned to full service until it was later decommissioned in 1963). In June, 1946, Robert re-enlisted with the Navy, (inactive status) and was honorably discharged a second time on June 15, 1950 at Hdqtrs 1ND, Boston, Massachusetts. Robert was the recipient of the American Theatre Medal and the Victory Medal for his active service.
1926 – N/A Branch: Navy Service Dates:Enlisted 1943 – 1946 Conflicts/Significant Events: WWII, transported to the Philippines and the South Pacific Islands on The Queen Mary Story uploaded/modified: Was an original pilot interview for the our project in 2006
1947 – N/A Branch: Army Service Dates: 1966-1968 Conflicts/Significant Events: Vietnam, Purple Heart An Original Pilot Story For Missouri Veteran Stories and Hometown Heroes America’s Veteran Stories
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