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Note: Letter from Robert Michael to Bill Michael - not dated - V-Mail To: T/Sgt William E. Michael 6870566 McCaw General Hospital Walla Walla, Washington From: PFC Robert Michael 39206170 HQ. Co. 3rd Bn. 506 Para. Inf. APO 478 c/o Postmaster, New York, USA, New York, USA. Dear Bill, How are you. I guess you ought to be able to move around by now, and to get your men on the Ball. I have seen quite a bit of action since I last heard from you and what you say is very much so. I haven't stopped any slugs yet, but I like to have lost my trigger finger. I am in a L.M.G. Plt and we don't miss any of the excitement, we jumped in Holland 9/17 and Normandy June 6, Some experience. How are things on the west coast now, we have a 48 coming up for Paris this week end. I am now located some where in France now. Their champagne is pretty good but they have a hell of price for things. Please tell the folks hello and ........unreadable. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Newspaper article - date written on article 3/30/1945 No reference to the name of the paper ROBERT MICHAEL IS ANOTHER HERO IN GERMAN BATTLES... WITH THE 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION ON THE WESTERN FRONT - Within two days after the 101st Airborne Division pulled into Bastogne shortly after the start of the Battle of the Bulge, it was completely sealed from outside help. When the Germans demanded surrender, acting division commander, Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe answered, "Nuts"! Private Robert H. Michael, 123 West B Street, Berkeley, (Brawley) is a member of this division. The defense was to attack continuously. At one point, the ammunition ration was 11 rounds to a gun. No planes were able to break through low ceiling to bring support and supplies. There were too many wounded for the medics to handle. But seven days after the encirclement, the battle of the Bastogne pocket ended. A corridor had been established with our own troops. The 101st Airborne had completed another chapter in its historic march through the battles of World War II. In addition to participating in the battle of Bastogne, the 506th parachute infantry regiment played a major role in the success of the Normandy and Holland campaigns. It took part in the fall of Carentan and later liberated Eindhoven, in Holland. It twice took the measure of the elite German 6th Parachute Refiment in attaining victories in France and Holland. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Newspaper article - No date - No newspaper name. LUFTWAFFE'S AIR PHOTO CACHE FOUND BERCHTESGADEN, June 23 (UP) - - The 101st airbourne division, it was revealed today, has located and seized 300 huge wooden packing cases containing the Luftwaffe's complete air photo reconnaissance records of the war. The find comprises hundreds of thousands of photographs taken from before the start of the war until almost the end. It was located in an old salt well in the basement of an Alpine farmhouse. Imperial Valley Press Obituary Form Funeral Home: Frye Chapel & MortuaryCity: Brawley Phone: 344-1414Date Obit. Ran/Will Run: 1/8/04 Photo Included: YesPhoto Date: 1998 Memorial services for Robert "Rob" Michael, 78, of Brawley, CA, will be celebrated at 6 PM, Monday, January 12, 2004 at Frye's Chapel, Hwy 86, Brawley, with Weldon Driskill officiating. He was born April 3, 1925 in Brawley and with close friends by his side, passed away Saturday, January 3, of natural causes at Pioneer's Memorial Hospital. Mr. Michael proudly served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 101st airborne division, 506th parachute infantry regiment, from 1943 to 1946. He jumped with his division into Normandy, June 6, 1944 (D-Day) and then into Holland and was at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Rob was awarded with the European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign (Distinguished Unit) Medal, American Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal. After returning home from the war, Rob worked as a cowboy and truck driver throughout California and Nevada, finally settling in Brawley. He was an avid reader, colorful storyteller, and a lover of animals. He is preceded in death by his parents and thirteen brothers and sisters. Survivors include his sister Miki Guenthner of Florida, numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends. Family and friends suggest memorial donations be made to the American Heart Association.
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