Pvt. Robert G. Taylor

Biography and Wartime Service

Robert Gerald Taylor the son of the late Jessie F. and Bessie E. Stoddard Taylor was born in Aurora, Missouri on January 24, 1926. He enlisted on August 10, 1944 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. On January 26, 1945 he joined B Company, 329th Infantry Regiment as a replacement from the 92nd Replacement Battalion.

In their sector, the 83rd Infantry was the lead American unit to the Rhine River in this sector and B Company of the 329th was the lead company into Neuss on March 2, 1945. The presence of the Rhine River however made it unable for them to proceed, so the GI's found some time to relax. The pictures below were taken during this brief rest period with a 'liberated' German camera from a nearby store on or about March 6, 1945. All of the men shown here survived the war and returned to the US. Bob Taylor, Bill Rusaw and Sheldon Stockston were all buddies from Flint, Missouri.

After Action Reports from April 1945 list Pvt. Taylor Robert G. as Lightly Wounded in Action (LWA) merely a month later on April 15, 1945 while fighting at the Elbe River in the area of Nutha and Gutergluck. Despite listed as Lightly Wounded, this would eventually become his ticket home aboard a hospital ship. After the war Bob was a regular attendee at the 83rd Infantry Division Reunions and an active member of the Association. He served twice as National President, from 1974-1975 and 2002-2003.

He married Vilma Mac Taylor on Jun 8, 1945. After the war, he was employed with General Motors for many years. Bob enjoyed traveling, playing cards, darts and going to the casino. He was a member of American Legion Berryhill Post 165 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Hemlock. Robert G. Taylor, age 95 of Midland, passed away Tuesday August 31, 2021 at the MidMichigan Medical Center, Midland.

Gallery

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