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A few hours later, Robert
Wolverton was killed by German machine gun fire in an orchard outside Saint-Come-du-Mont, Normandy, France. According to Ed Shames, Wolverton sustained "162 bullet holes and bayonet wounds" due to German troops using him as target practice. Of the paratroopers in his plane,
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The men were called together, and they stood in the orchard on either side of a low earthen mound which fenced the fields. Upon the earthen hedgerow stood Lt. Col. Robert L. Wolverton, commanding officer of 3rd battalion, 506th PIR. And the colonel said:
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Despite being killed before landing on French soil, Wolverton's legacy endured, particularly on the strength of a prayer spoken to the 750 men in his battalion hours before the D-Day parachute drop behind enemy lines.
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with a B.S. degree on June 14, 1938. His
October 3, 1940 promotion to first lieutenant was made permanent on June 14, 1941. Wolverton was temporarily advanced to lieutenant colonel on January 18, 1943.
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All were silent for two minutes as the men were left, each with his individual thoughts. Then the colonel ordered, "Move out."
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5 were killed (including
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stories on a battalion reunion held in Kansas City on the first D-Day anniversary after the war .
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if You will, use us as Your instrument for the right and an aid in returning peace to the world.
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Text of
President Reagan's 1984 speech from Pointe du Hoc on the 40th anniversary of D-Day:
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and safe in the feeling that we have done our best for what we believed was right.
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God almighty, in a few short hours we will be in battle with the enemy.
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http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1984/60684a.htm
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361:(October 5, 1914 – June 6, 1944) was the commander of the
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On 9 June 2014 a monument was dedicated to
Wolverton at
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http://dday-experience.com/en/visit-us/d-day-experience
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United States Army personnel killed in World War II
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689:http://www.theforgottenbattalion.com/index.html
663:http://www.ww2airborne.com/airborneprayers.html
343:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
448:We do not know or seek what our fate will be.
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542:Official Register of the Officers and Cadets
246:United States Military Academy Post Cemetery
589:"Col. Robert Wolverton Monument Dedication"
53:Learn how and when to remove these messages
392:Wolverton's words were cited by President
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136:. Please do not remove this message until
423:Following is a recounting of the prayer:
174:Learn how and when to remove this message
156:Learn how and when to remove this message
400:on the 40th anniversary of the invasion
132:Relevant discussion may be found on the
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410:and recounted in numerous books and in
642:D-Day Paratroopers Historical Center:
736:Military personnel from West Virginia
731:United States Military Academy alumni
538:"Class of 1938—Register of Graduates"
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479:and with us now as we pray to you."
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756:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
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367:506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
34:This article has multiple issues.
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473:O Lord, protect our loved ones
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439:We do not join battle afraid.
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359:Robert Lee "Bull" Wolverton
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619:Army Cemeteries Explorer
311:506th Parachute Infantry
90:may contain suggestions.
75:may need to be rewritten
751:101st Airborne Division
615:"Wolverton, Robert Lee"
371:101st Airborne Division
351:American Campaign Medal
315:101st Airborne Division
564:Official Army Register
396:in a 1984 speech from
347:American Defense Medal
520:on October 11, 1948.
497:Elkins, West Virginia
283:Years of service
218:Elkins, West Virginia
462:without complaining,
456:that if die we must,
190:Robert Lee Wolverton
518:West Point Cemetery
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694:2008-08-18 at the
681:2016-02-07 at the
668:2009-05-17 at the
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229:(1944-06-06)
227:June 6, 1944
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84:You can help
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36:Please help
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721:1944 deaths
716:1914 births
621:. U.S. Army
705:Categories
625:2022-09-14
600:2021-02-15
574:2022-09-14
548:2022-09-14
524:References
491:Background
253:Allegiance
211:1914-10-05
146:April 2021
123:neutrality
96:April 2021
39:improve it
381:, during
286:1938–1944
134:talk page
88:talk page
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692:Archived
679:Archived
666:Archived
653:Archived
495:Born in
413:Newsweek
404:Archived
398:Normandy
363:American
306:Commands
271:Service/
236:, France
234:Normandy
127:disputed
594:YouTube
508:Legacy
331:Awards
273:branch
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86:. The
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