TSGT Robert Randolph Driskill Jr.

courtesy Ann Cady

TSGT Robert Randolph Driskill Jr was born 17 May 1919 in Campbell County, Virginia to Robert Randolph and Ruby Nelly (Reynolds) Driskill.  His father had a restaurant but by 1940 was working as an orchestral musician who reported a 1939 income of $530.  Robert Jr was working as a laborer and contributed $300 to the family income in 1939. 

Like many young men in families who needed the income $1 a day, Robert joined the National Guard and was a PFC when his unit was federalized in February 1941.  Assigned to B Company 116th Infantry, Robert trained for the invasion of Hitler's "fortress Europe".  He was with that unit when it made that amphibious assault as a SSG on 6 Jun 1944 (D-Day) and survived to move inland with his unit.  On 20 Jun 1944, Robert was promoted to TSGT.  TSGT Driskill was killed in action on 12 Jul 1944. 

TSGT was repatriated and buried in Arlington National Cemetery.  He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star.