PVT Robert Earl Palmer

courtesy of Vickie O.

PVT Robert Earl Palmer was born 18 Mar 1925 in Arlington County, Virginia. He was the 2nd of 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl, born to Charles and Mae Elizabeth (Cavish) Palmer. The family moved quite a bit and every child was born in a different place, from New York to Georgia. We don't know what his father did but his mother was listed in local directories as a "clairvoyant".  Robert was able to complete 2 years of high school before entering the work force.

When Robert was drafted in June 1943 he was working in a factory in Westchester, New York. After completing his initial military training he was sent to England and assigned to B Company 116th Infantry. He was with the unit in time to participate in the amphibious assault on Omaha Beach. PVT Palmer was killed in action in that effort on 6 Jun 1944.

PVT Palmer was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Laurel Grove Memorial Park in Towtowa, New Jersey.

Robert's younger brothers also served. Thomas Stephen Palmer served as a SGT in the U.S. Air Force. John Samuel Palmer served as a PVT in Headquarters Battery 170th Field Artillery (New York National Guard) and then on active duty until August 1954 and may have died in 1955 of what might have been a service related injury.