Wolverton, Robert Lee “Bull”.

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Wolverton, Robert Lee “Bull” born 05-10-1914 in Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia, USA to Wayne Jay “W.J.” Wolverton Sr (1882–1960)

and his wife Hattie Morgan, born Sharp, Wolverton (1887–1976)

  Wayne Jr., Connie (sitting), Ruth and Robert outside their red brick family home in Elkins, West Virginia.

Robert spent his first years at 219 Davis Street, in Elkins, West Virginia. His father worked as a clerk and his mother spent her days raising the four Wolverton children: Ruth, Robert, Wayne Jr and Cornelia. In 1920 the Wolvertons moved three blocks down the road to 301 Center Street. Here is a modern photo of the Wolverton family home: By age 9, young Robert’s biggest dream was to someday attend the United States Military Academy at West Point

This desire was most likely inspired by a local Elkins boy named Neil Bosworth “Chick” Harding.

    Chick was Commander of the famed 100th Bomb Group in World War II and the only colonel to ever command the famed 8th Air Force .The Hardings lived about a half a mile up the road from the Wolvertons. Chick survived the war and died 22-04-1978 (age 73) in Villanova, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, USA

While at Elkins High School, Chick had been a star athlete; his top sport being football. Robert loved football and everything the sport represented. Chick graduated from Elkins High School in 1922 and received his appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he joined the class of 1927. Chick’s fellow classmate Robert Frederick “Bob Sink

“would command Robert Wolverton in the 506th PIR. Sink would retire a Lieutenant General in 1961.

Robert graduated from the United States Military Academy with a B.S. degree on 06-1938. His 03-10-1940 promotion to first lieutenant was made permanent on 14-06-1941. Wolverton was temporarily advanced to lieutenant colonel on 18-01-1943.

When Robert went to Elkins High School with Kathleen L Goodwin. Kathleen preferred to be called Kay. While Kay was in high school she was very much involved in school activities. She sang in the Glee Club, was a member of the Everyday Art Club, the Dramatic Club, the Pep Club, the Yearbook Committee, the Girl Reserves, and she performed in acts during the annual “Stunt Night.” In the “Future Predictions” section of her senior year yearbook, of her it is said, “Kathleen Goodwin is a queen of the dance.” In the “Senior Popularity Contest” section she was voted, “Best date.” Kay graduated a year earlier than Robert did from Elkins HS. She went on to study at Davis and Elkins College. There must have been something very special about Kay, for she stole Robert’s heart. They would be married on 17-08-1938, shortly after Robert graduated from West Point.

After West Point, Robert’s first assignment was to the 27th Infantry Division, under command of Major General John Francis O’Ryan    in Oahu, Hawaii. On post, he and Kay lived a good life. Robert was the editor for the regiment’s paper: The Wolfhound. He also coached the track team and was assistant coach to the football team. Although life wasn’t as difficult as it was going to become in the next few years, the men still lived in constant fear of a Japanese attack and several times were ordered to their battle posts. Robert stayed in Hawaii until 1940, and then moved to Fort Bragg, NC, where he became Commander of HQ Company of the 47th Infantry Regiment. It is there, at Fort Bragg, that Robert’s son, Robert Lachlan Wolverton, was born on 24-08-1941.

Robert had a burning passion to become a paratrooper. So, on 07-12-1941, he applied for a transfer to the paratroops. It was granted, but first he went to Fort Leavenworth to attend Command and General Staff School. Upon finishing this school, Robert was ordered to Camp Toccoa, Georgia, to take command of the 3rd Battalion of the newly founded 506th Paratroop Infantry Regiment. On 15-06-1942, Captain Robert Lee Wolverton received his promotion to the rank of Major. He took command of his Battalion with great enthusiasm and began, from scratch, to build what would become one of the US Army’s most legendary units.

Having completed their training at camp Toccoa, Georgia, in late 1942 the 506th PIR received orders to move to Fort Benning, Georgia to attend parachutist school. It was time to earn their jump wings and become bonafide parachutists. 1st Battalion made the trip by train. In late November 1942, LTC Robert Lytle Strayer’s   2/506 left Camp Toccoa on foot and marched 118 miles to Atlanta. From Atlanta they took the train to Fort Benning. Not to be outdone, 3/506th’s commander, Major Wolverton (soon to become LTC), who had learned of a world record held by the Japanese for the longest march, decided he wanted to beat that record and at the same time, show up the 2/506. Major Wolverton gave the order for 3/506 to take the train from Toccoa to Atlanta. Then, at Atlanta, 3rd Battalion detrained and, wearing packs and carrying weapons, began a foot march to Fort Benning. The great leader that he was, Major Wolverton chose to march with his men and led the 700 soldiers on the gruelling 138 mile march from the front of the long green line. 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.

Death and burial ground of Wolverton, Robert Lee “Bull”.

  

Following is a recounting of the prayer:

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 Lieutenant. Colonel. Robert Lee Wolverton, commanding officer of 3rd battalion, 506th PIR. And the colonel said:

“Men, I am not a religious man and I don’t know your feelings in this matter, but I am going to ask you to pray with me for the success of the mission before us. And while we pray, let us get on our knees and not look down but up with faces raised to the sky so that we can see God and ask His blessing in what we are about to do:God almighty, in a few short hours we will be in battle with the enemy.We do not join battle afraid.We do not ask favors or indulgence but ask that,if You will, use us as Your instrument for the right and an aid in returning peace to the world.We do not know or seek what our fate will be.We ask only this,that if die we must,that we die as men would die,without complaining,without pleadingand safe in the feeling that we have done our best for what we believed was right.O Lord, protect our loved onesand be near us in the fire aheadand with us now as we pray to you.”

All were silent for two minutes as the men were left, each with his individual thoughts. Then the colonel ordered, “Move out.”

A few hours later, Robert Wolverton, age 29, was killed by German machine gun fire in an orchard outside Saint-Come-du-Mont, Normandy, France. According to Colonel Edward David “Ed” Shames, Edward Shames, last surviving officer from ‘Band of Brothers,’ dies at age 99. 03-12-2021. Wolverton sustained “162 bullet holes and bayonet wounds” due to German troops using him as target practice. Of the paratroopers in his plane, 5 were killed (including Wolverton), 7 were captured (some later escaped) and 3 successfully fought on.  A memorial dedicated to Robert Lee Wolverton in Saint-Côme-du-Mont, France, right across from the apple orchard where he was killed on D-Day.

Robert Wolverton is buried at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery.

Message(s), tips or interesting graves for the webmaster:    robhopmans@outlook.com

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