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No one who had ever known <em>Bob Lindsay</em> would ever forget him.</p>
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No one could be close to him without feeling his keen love of life; above all, his buoyant sense of humor. He was truly an individual.</p>
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Bob was born and raised in the Army. That the Army would not be his career never occurred to him. The son of Eva Miller Lindsay and Brig. Gen. J. R. Lindsay (U.S.M.A. 1890), Bob was born at Leavenworth, Kansas, on July 7, 1899. During his youth, the Lindsay family spent a tour of Foreign Service in the Philippines, so that young Bob acquired an early knowledge of the '‘Islands” and their people. He learned to love the Islands, and twice returned to them on orders for Foreign Service, to serve with his beloved Philippine Scouts.</p>
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His intimate knowledge of the country was a great tactical asset all through the fighting in Western Luzon and Bataan.</p>
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As a cadet, Bob devoted endless time toward thinking up antics for the edification and amusement of his classmates, although he himself was just one jump ahead of the Academic Department. When General MacArthur, then Superintendent, appeared with a short overcoat, swagger stick and cap with crushed brim, Bob spent hours in making over a cadet uniform in exact replica. Then a snapshot was taken and given wide circulation. At reunion in 1938, General Buckner, then Colonel, greeted Bob heartily, “Lindsay, when I saw you in that uniform like General MacArthur’s, I thought I'd die laughing”. Lindsay replied, "Colonel, when you saw me that day, I thought I was found!"</p>
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Bob and Trooper Price vied with each other in attaching nicknames to their classmates. Anyone so favored is more than likely to be stuck with that title today. Thus, for the rest of his life wherever he went, Bob was “Piute” to his intimates.</p>
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At the beginning of First Class year, Bob was "elected" corporal of the uncontrollable E Co. millionaire squad. Having great difficulty at all formations in reporting his squad, each of whose members popped into ranks at the last note of assembly, he resigned as "Corporal” at mid-year, but was promptly re-elected by unanimous vote.</p>
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Bob organized and led the Cadet Bugle Corps, and was a member of the polo squad in his First Class year.</p>
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After graduation leave, he reported to the 11th Infantry at Fort Ben Harrison. He made frequent week-end trips to Louisville and finally the object of his affection was made known by the announcement of the engagement of Martha Briscoe to James Robert Lindsay. They were married on October 1st, 1924.</p>
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Enroute home in 1927 from his first tour in the Philippines, Bob received orders for transfer to the Field Artillery.</p>
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Bob graduated from the Battery Officers School, Fort Sill on June 12, 1931, but an event of greater importance that day was the birth of a son, James Robert, III.</p>
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When the 68th F.A. (Mech.) was organized in 1934, he reported to Fort Knox and was assigned as Regimental Adjutant. Promotion to Captain came in 1935.</p>
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In 1939, as the war clouds were gathering in Europe and Asia, Bob sailed tor his second tour of duty in the Philippines, reporting to the 24th F.A. (P.S.). On promotion to Major in 1940, he was assigned as a Bn. C.O. in the 23rd F.A. His admiration for the scout regiments was expressed in a letter to his wife, written during the fighting in Bataan, "As I've always insisted, our Scouts have been superb—all branches. They are worth their weight in gold.”</p>
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Martha Lindsay and young Bobby were evacuated from the Islands with all other dependents in January, 1941. In the late fall, Bob received his orders for return to the States. The transport never sailed. Its date of departure was to have been December 8, 1941.</p>
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At the outbreak of hostilities, Bob was in command of a battery of self-propelled mounts which fought all through the early days in Northern Luzon. After the retreat to Bataan, he was first assigned to the 1st Philippine Corps us Assistant to the Chief of Artillery, and later when that officer was lost, he became Chief of Artillery for the Corps.</p>
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On the Death March out of Bataan, Bob was wounded in his left knee by American shellfire from Corregidor, which was directed at a Japanese battery near the road. The wound crippled him with a stiff knee for many months, until finally, Lt. E. R. Nelson, U.S.N., performed several operations which corrected the condition. After a long period of persistent exercise, Bob was able to walk with only a slight limp.</p>
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His keen sense of humor helped him overcome the dreariness of the long months at Cabanatuan and Bilibid. Without exception, letters written to Martha by other officers who survived the captivity, spoke of Bob’s cheerfulness and his beneficial effect on the morale of the other prisoners. From Capt. T. P. Bell, U.S.A., who lived with Bob for two years in Bilibid: "As you can well imagine, he kept us all in stitches with a ukulele, trapping and training mice, his eternal optimism, and a thousand other ways”. These letters, also, unfailingly mention his courage and determination in overcoming the effects of his leg wound.</p>
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During his captivity, Bob worked out complete plans for the reorganization of the Philippine Scouts and the Philippine Army. The plans were left in the care of a fellow prisoner who, fortunately, survived, and forwarded them to the proper authority.</p>
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The tragic details of the sailing of the Jap prison ship, Oryku Maru, from Manila on December 13, 1944, have been recorded too many times to bear painful repetition. Bob survived two sinkings, but died enroute from Formosa to Japan as a result of extreme exposure and dehydration. The War Department officially records his death on January 9, 1945, but actually it occurred about January 20, 1945.</p>
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The Legion of Merit was awarded posthumously, with the following citation: "For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services in the Southwest Pacific Area, from December 8, 1941 to April 9, 1942. Serving initially as Artillery Officer, North Luzon Force, and subsequently, I Philippine Corps, Colonel Lindsay demonstrated conspicuous professional competence and resourceful leadership in planning artillery operations during the gallant defense of the Philippines. His thorough understanding of field artillery technique was in constant evidence throughout a prolonged period of the most bitter combat and his ability to overcome almost insurmountable logistical problems was readily apparent as he did much to furnish prompt and accurate fire support for the hard pressed defenders of Bataan. By his exemplary conduct, sound judgment, and unfailing devotion to duty Colonel Lindsay fully upheld the highest traditions of the service”.</p>
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Surviving are his wife, Martha, son Bobby, and his Mother.</p>
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<em>—D. C. K.</em></p>
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