RESIDENCE (DURING WWII):
Alamance County, North Carolina
FULL NAME:
Robert L. Troxler
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER (ASN):
34174357
- DATE OF BIRTH: Feb 7, 1919
- DATE OF DEATH: Apr 17, 1978
DATE / PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
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DATE OF ENLISTMENT:Nov 14, 1941
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PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:Fort Bragg, North Carolina
ORGANIZATION:
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MAIN UNIT:23rd Infantry Regiment
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SUBUNIT:Company B, 1st Battalion
RANK / POSITION IN UNIT (LAST KNOWN):
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RANK:Technical Sergeant (T/Sgt.)
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POSITION IN UNIT:Platoon Guide
BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS:
✭ Normandy Campaign (6 June – 24 July 1944), ✭ Northern France Campaign (25 July – 14 September 1944), ✭ Ardennes-Alsace Campaign (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945)
DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS (AWARDS):
🎖Silver Star Medal, 🎖Purple Heart, 🎖Good Conduct Medal, 🎖European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, 🎖American Defense Service Medal, 🎖Honorable Service Lapel Button, 🎖Combat Infantry Badge
SUMMARY OF HIS SERVICE:
He was drafted Nov 14, 1941 at Ft Bragg NC. Was transferred to Ft McClellan AL and served in Company "B" 24th BN BIRTC as a Corporal and then Sergeant until August 1943 when transferred to Ft Meade Maryland as a drill Sergeant.
Was sent overseas in July 1944 and assigned to Company B 23rd Inf Reg as a platoon sergeant. I have his roster with names of the men in his platoon. Lt William H Crane , Sgt Walter Leet, Pvt Lewis Morris were some of the ones he talked about. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action Sept 2 1944 near Brest France. I have a picture of him and Charles Perkas taken on Sept 3 in the Guipavas area that is in "1944 Americans in Brittany, the Battle for Brest" by Jonathan GAWNE on page 134. He never really talked to us much about being in combat. I learned from research and some letters that he was wounded on Dec 17 1944 in the opening stages of the Bulge and that his platoon was cut off and captured on the 18th. He told me that he was in a body cast for several months after he was wounded and had a long recovery period after he got out of the cast. His spinal and internal injuries bothered him the rest of his life. He had a heart attack in 1973 and another in 1978 that ended his life. I would like to find out more about his overseas service, his injuries and possibly connect with anyone who served or had a family member who served with him.
My Dad first and foremost was a Christian gentleman. He served his community as a barber, and community store owner. He served in various positions in his Church. He married in 1954 my mother who was 13 years younger than him. Raised 4 children, I never saw him upset or mad about anything. He took everything in stride and handled everything that came his way with dignity and grace. I realized from an early age that my Dad was different from many of my friends Dads. He was older than most (36) when I was born in 1955. His only hobby was his family. He raised us with love and kindness and understanding. As the minister that preached his funeral said " he was the kind of man that ministers go to for advice".
