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<em>Robert H. York</em>, a veteran of four campaigns while serving as battalion commander in the 18th Infantry of the 1st Infantry Division, was especially selected for command of the 331st Infantry Regiment of the 83rd Division in Normandy, France on 7 July 1944. At 32, he was promoted to colonel and became one of the youngest regimental commanders in the Army.</p>
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The 331st Infantry Regiment was completely demoralized, having lost six regimental commanders in the first thirty days of combat—and having suffered heavy casualties in their first engagement against the entrenched forces of Nazi artillery and tanks in the Battle of the Normandy hedgerows. Bob’s leaderhship transformed the 331st Infantry into a hard-hitting unit that went on to fight victoriously in five campaigns in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany to establish a bridgehead across the Elbe River, 65 miles from Berlin, two weeks before V-E Day. The esprit de corps that prevailed in the 331st with Bob’s leadership was outstanding and dramatic.</p>
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Robert H. York was born in Birmingham, Alabama, 23 April 1913. When he was five, his mother died. He was raised by his guardians, Uncle John and Aunt Eula Cooper.</p>
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Bob’s military career began when he enrolled for two years in Marion Military Institute, Marion, Alabama. He then attended St. Bernard College, Cullman, Alabama, and in July 1933, he enlisted in the Alabama National Guard. A year later, he entered the United States Military Academy.</p>
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At West Point, Bob demonstrated his athletic superiority early in his career when he stood number one in gymnasium during his plebe year. Undefeated in the West Point boxing ring, Bob was runner-up in two Eastern intercollegiate championship tournaments. On the track team, he became one of the Academy’s best pole vaulters.</p>
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While Bob excelled in sports, which came easy for him, he had a more difficult road in his academic classes; thus, he must be recognized as one of the Class of ‘38’s “most famous ‘goats.’ “ Nevertheless, history has proved that in common sense and battlefield “savvy,” he should have been wearing stars on his collar during his entire four years at West Point.</p>
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Upon graduation, Bob was commissioned in the Infantry. When astigmatism knocked him out of Air Corps Flying School, he was assigned to Fort Wadsworth, New York with the 18th Infantry. During this tour, he took a quick trip to Elkton, Maryland, and on 21 February 1941 married the beautiful Grace Buckland, sister of classmate Sherwood Buckland who, incidentally, was Bob’s arch rival around the poker table!</p>
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Bob went overseas with the 18th Infantry in August 1942 and, as battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, fought with that regiment throughout its campaigns in Africa, Sicily, and Normandy, including three D-Day landings at Oran (North Africa), Sicily, and Omaha Beach. While with the 18th Infantry, he served in all grades from second lieutenant to lieutenant colonel. After his transfer to the 83rd Infantry Division in Normandy, he remained regimental commander of the 331st Infantry Regiment until the division was inactivated in Europe in April 1946.</p>
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In July 1946 he was assigned as an instructor of Tactics at the United States Military Academy. Here his tactical instruction, tempered by extensive battlefield experience and leadership, profoundly impressed hundreds of future officers.</p>
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In August 1950 Bob was assigned to the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff G-3, Department of the Army, as a staff officer in the Operations Division. In August 1951 he was selected for attendance at the Army War College. Upon graduation, he attended the Strategic Intelligence School and was then assigned to the Office of Assistant Chief of Staff G-2, Department of the Army, as the United States Army Liaison Officer, Singapore. He served in this position until May 1956.</p>
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In August 1956 he was assigned to the Infantry Center, Fort Benning, Georgia. Here he served successively as director, Tactical Department, The Infantry School; assistant chief of staff G-3, The Infantry Center; director of instruction and deputy to the assistant commandant, The Infantry School; and chief of staff, The Infantry Center.</p>
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In July 1959 Bob was appointed deputy chief of staff of the United Nations Command in Korea, in which position he served until July 1960. In September he returned to the Army staff as chief, International Division, Office of the Chief of Research and Development. On 10 May 1962, he was reassigned as military advisor to the deputy director, Tactical Warfare Programs, Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, Department of Defense.</p>
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In October 1962 Brigadier General York assumed duty as director, Advanced Research Projects Agency, Research and Development Field Unit, and Joint Operation Evaluation Group, Vietnam. Here he exhibited once again his courage and battlefield acumen as he spent much of his time in the field, often flying aircraft himself over enemy territory to gain firsthand knowledge of Viet Cong tactics.</p>
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Major General York was given command of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 24 February 1964. He led the landings of that unit in the Dominican Republic when it was ordered there in April 1965 to help preserve order and to protect American citizens during the uprising in Santo Domingo. He returned to assume command of Fort Benning, Georgia and The Infantry School, 16 July 1965. On 1 August 1967, Lieutenant General York became commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg. On 1 August 1968, Bob York retired.</p>
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For his exemplary leadership during World War II, the Army War College selected York’s biography for inclusion in the library of the United States Army Military History Institute. This biography was prepared by Lieutenant Colonel Herbert J. Lloyd, USAWC Class of 1984, who had served under General York in the 82nd Airborne Division. LTC Lloyd’s research, personal interviews, and replies to letters solicited from many who served with Bob resulted in the compilation of an anthology of letters entitled “The Legacy of Lieutenant General Robert H. York as told by the Soldiers He Led.”</p>
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Colonel Lloyd wrote, as a preface to York’s “Legacy,” “… the research to support this work is contained herein in the form of letters. As these letters arrived, I began to see they were something rare indeed. The message of the letters went far beyond the needs of my study. The letters provide an insight into a great American who was blessed with a remarkable talent. We see the measure of the man under the most difficult circumstances that most mortals will never know.”</p>
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Officers and men of the 1st Infantry Division who served with and under York during the North African and Sicily campaigns and the Omaha Beach Invasion wrote glowingly of York’s character, his battlefield acumen, his leadership qualities, and most of all, of their respect and admiration for him as a human being, as well as a military officer. For example: “... he was entirely human with an extraordinary understanding of his fellow human beings—a convincing, honest and sincere attitude—inspired confidence—consistently measured up to the highest standards.”</p>
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“In a landing craft approaching Omaha Beach on D-Day, York remarked to a fellow officer, ‘Mac, I’d give anything if there was a band nearby playing the Stars and Stripes Forever.’”</p>
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“… displayed a Solomon-like quality and sense of justice—blessed with nerves of steel—evaluated any situation in an instant.”</p>
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“... never fought battles from maps; he got out on the ground up front— always probing around the lead platoons and the lead squads.”</p>
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“General York was a brave soldier. He was without doubt the most courageous officer I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. Not blind courage, mind you! He would never risk the life of one of his troopers. And, if the orders from higher Headquarters didn’t make good sense, he would never fear telling them so.”</p>
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Letters from the officers and men of the 331st graphically portray how York won the undying respect of his men. For example: “… his actions, his bearing, and his attitude always seemed to be giving an impression that there was a definite job to be done, so let’s go on with it and get it over with. Don’t worry about yesterday.”</p>
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“… He had unusual respect for each soldier regardless of rank; never gave a foolhardy order to any man, even when requested to do so by some officer of higher rank; never raised his voice in giving a command; had his ears open and his mouth shut to anyone who could report anything in a battle situation and then acted or reacted; dealt in a very subtle and quiet way when reprimanding a soldier who violated any rules.” Bob’s extraordinary leadership and courage were recognized by award of the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, two Silver Stars for Valor, two Purple Hearts, Combat Infantryman Badge, Croix de Guerre Avec Palme, Legion D’Honneur, and two Army Commendation Medals. He wore the Master Parachute and Aviator Badges and 15 campaign and service medals.</p>
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“<em>MY FINAL THOUGHTS</em>,” by Lieutenant General Robert H. York:</p>
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“I just want to say that whatever success I enjoyed as a leader can be attributed to just two or three simple things. First, it was due to all the great people who worked with me and for me. It just seemed that the good Lord always sent me the people I needed at the time I needed them.</p>
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“Second, and most important, I feel my so-called success was due to the fact that I genuinely loved and respected the soldier and especially the infantryman. We all know that it is the infantryman that suffers, by far, the greatest number of casualties in all wars. Even when he is not fighting, his living conditions are far below that of the other branches of the service. Rightly, the Infantry is recognized as ‘the Queen of Battle.’</p>
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“I felt honored to lead that man in battle and I felt obliged to give him my best. And I also felt obligated to share with him, at least to some degree, the dangers he faced and some of the pain and fears he endured.</p>
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“I think all the experiences we are allowed to have in life contribute to our understanding of other people and make it easier ‘to treat others as you would have them treat you’ under the same circumstances.</p>
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“Finally, the things you see in me—in my character—are a reflection of what I saw in each of you.</p>
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“Maybe my roommates at West Point sized me up right in our yearbook when they said, ‘Bob is a man’s man who has knocked around the world a bit, and who has the happy faculty of meeting everyone on common ground.’ I hope this is true.</p>
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“As for myself, I like the following to read, and remember from high school days, and I would be happy to have it on my tombstone: ‘Just a common, ordinary cuss. Just like the common runs of us. No better and no wus.’”</p>
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* * *</p>
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With retirement, Bob and Grace moved to his home state, Huntsville, Alabama. There he was active in church affairs, and helped begin a halfway house for drug-abusing youths. According to John York, his half-brother, he spent little money on himself. “He lived in basics and that was all he cared about.” In 1983, Bob and Grace moved to San Diego.</p>
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He is survived by his wife, Grace Buckland York; four daughters, Elizabeth Ann, Barbara Allison, Gail Andrea, and Carol; a sister Lorene Osborne; and a half-brother, John York.</p>
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Bob York was the personification of all, whom anyone would love, whom anyone would emulate—an inspiration to everyone who met him, however brief.</p>
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<em>Ben Sternberg, Classmate, and Jack M. Straus, 331st Infantry Veteran</em></p>