Date of birth:

April 10th, 1922 (Chicago/Illinois, United States)

Date of death:

November 13th, 2005 (Duluth/Minnesota, United States)

Service number:

36 651 793

Nationality:

American (1776 - present, Republic)

He was ''LIA BI'' (Lightly injured in action, battle injury) on Feb 28, 1945 during or after crossing the Roer River, near Heinbach. It lists him as at the 78th Clearence Station. AAR of Feb 28, 1945 reports "3rd Bn was across the River (Roer) protecting the left flank of the 1st Bn and ''received heavy enemy...mortar and artillery''

K Company morning report on March 15, 1945 lists him ''from absent 78th Clr Sta LIA BI to transferred to 662nd Clearance Station.'' As of July 31, 1945, he had not returned to the company.

Military career:
Inducted March 17, 1943 at Ft. Sheridan, IL Reported to Company K 311th Infantry 78th Infantry Division March 30, 1943 Camp Butner, North Carolina Promoted to CPL October 25, 1943 Promoted to SGT January 7, 1944 Late September 1944, moved from Camp Pickett, Va., to Camp Kilmer, N.J., to undergo pre-embarkation processing. Crossed Atlantic on the Carnavon Castle Arrived in England, 26 October 1944, and received further training Landed at La Harve, France, 22 November, and moved to Tongres, Belgium, and to Rotgen, Germany, Attached to the 8th Division in the Hurtgen Forest, 10 December 1944 Lightly Injured, battle injury February 8, 1945 Promoted to SSG February 17, 1945 Absent 78th Clearing Station Lightly Injured, battle injury as of February 28, 1945 Separated October 12, 1945 Fort Custer, MI

Buried - Saint Benedict Cemetery, Crestwood, Illinois

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Unit:

Company K, 3rd Battalion, 311th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division "Lightning", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

February 22nd, 1945

Citation:
"For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on 6 February 1945 in the vicinity of Schmidt, Germany. At about 1530, 6 February 1945, while engaged with his company in an attack on the fortified village of Schmidt, Germany, Sergeant Szyman was knocked down by an artillery burst and suffered from concussion. Although injured internally, he refused to be evacuated and continued to lead his light machine gun section until noon the next day when the company mission was practically complete. He utilized the machine guns of his section in an efficient manner, although he could not straighten his body because of his injuries. Sergeant Szyman’s fortitude and devotion to duty are in accordance with the highest military traditions."

General Orders No. 49, 78th Infantry Division (22 February 1945).

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Bob Szyman
• - General Orders No. 49, 78th Infantry Division, 22 February 1945
  - Robert J Szyman