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name
CROFT, Robert Irvin - Date of
birth
4 March 1924 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon -
Hometown
Eagle Creek, Clackamas County, Oregon
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
19201229 -
Rank
Private -
Function
unknown -
Unit
K Company,
3rd Battalion,
334th Infantry Regiment,
84th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
22 November 1945 - Place of
death
Prümmern Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
John E. Croft (father)
Hazel F. (Seaman) Croft (mother)
Ruth M. Croft (sister)
Jean M. Croft (sister)
More information
Pvt Robert I. Croft attended high school for four years and was a laboratory technician.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Portland, Oregon on 12 December 1942 and was later transferred to the infantry.
On 18 November 1944 K Company was assigned to establish contact between two battalions on the northern edge of Prümmern, Germany. The company departed an area 6oo yards south of the town with the intention of reaching the northern edge of the town. During the ensuing action the platoon to which Sgt Robert L. Rzeppa, Pvt Robert I. Croft and Pvt Joseph G. Mulligan were assigned was surrounded by German tanks on the northern edge of Prümmern.
The following statement concerning the disappearance of these men was mede by 2nd Lt Richard S. Bullens: "Wounded men at an evacuation hospital talked with the company commander Capt Dudley. They stated that the platoon was surrounded by six German tanks. Some men were killed, some wounded and the reminder captured."
All three men were officially declared dead one one and one year after they were reported missing in action.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, IDPF
Photo source: Peter Schouteten