Robert Abrams was a Marion resident before entering service. He comes from a veteran-proud family. He had two uncles who served in the military and he had three brothers and a sister who served in the military as well as cousins and nephews. His older brother, Alva, served as a gunner on a B-17 in the Pacific theater during World War Two; his brother, Ronald, served in the infantry during the Korean War; another brother, Martin, served as a quartermaster; and his sister, Rachel, served in the Finance Corps. Robert said he followed in his brother’s, Alva’s, footsteps and joined the Army.
Robert Abrams graduated from Harding High School with the Class of 1952. For a short time he worked for Western Union. In September of 1952 Robert joined the United States Army and attended basic training with the 3rd Armored Division at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He would continue his training and become a Combat Medic at the Heath Services Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Abrams would spend a career in the Army; serving in Korea War from 1952-1953, as an ambulance driver with the 24th Medical Battalion; he then would served time in Germany with the 30th Medical Battalion; he also would serve two tours in Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division “First Team.” He also would serve time in the states at various posts.
While in Vietnam he was serving with HQ 8th Engineers and the 15th Medical Battalion. He spent time in Vietnam at LZ English, Phu Cat Airbase, as well as other locations. He would work as a medic running on ambulance, hospital duty and serving on medevac helicopters.
Abrams remembers a time when he was on patrol in Vietnam and they came under attack from across the river when they were in the delta area. He said lots of small arms fire was coming in at them and he was with a mortarman. The soldier asked, “Sarge do you know how to fire mortar rounds?” Abrams said, “No, but I bet I can figure it out.” Abrams said the mortarman would set up the tube, set the fuse on the mortar and hand them to Abrams. Abrams would then drop them in the tube to fire. He said after a while of doing this he heard someone calling him on the PRC radio. It was an Australian pilot asking, “Do you Yanks need some help down there?” Abrams answered, “Yes, all that you can give us.” The pilot then asked where Abrams wanted the fire. The mortarman set up a smoke round and Abrams put it on the enemy position. The Aussie pilot them commenced gun and rocket runs on the enemy positions. When the pilot was empty he radioed back saying, “Anytime you Yanks need some help, give me a call.”
Abrams said he later found out that it was estimated a thousand enemy were across the river firing on them. He said he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with a V-device for that action. Abrams said he had no idea there were that many enemy and laughingly said he probably would not have stuck around if he did know.
Abrams also recalls a time in Vietnam when a Vietnamese interpreter called him out of the ward and said a Vietnamese girl was outside and wanted to speak with him. Abrams said he told the interpreter that he didn’t know any Vietnamese girls. When he went outside, he found the Vietnamese was a girl whom he had helped save her life. She had lost here hand and Abrams had worked on her. She came to thank him.
Abrams was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal as well as other awards in his military career. He would retire as a Sergeant Major.
Abrams says he wishes he was able to stay in touch with guys he served with over the years. He had lost touch with many of them. A few did write to him. He has one friend who sends him a Christmas card from St. Louis every year.
After returning to Marion, Ohio, Abrams worked at the Marion Correctional Institute for another 25 years before again retiring. He keeps busy now helping other veterans in need of assistance with veteran’s benefits. He enjoys talking about his family and military career. He still resides in Marion, Ohio, with his wife, Joyce. Abrams also has two sons, whom he and his wife raised on various Army installations. Both sons, Paul and Michael are veterans of the army Reserves.
Mr. Hill went on to get his training in HVAC/Refrigeration units.
Jack, or Herb to some of his friends know him, was a member of the LaRue Volunteer Fire Department when he was as young as ten years old. He remembers as a boy he was in the Boy Scouts and would attend camp at Camp Owens, which was located south of Marion. He said that they had real rifles from WWI and would drill with them.
While Davis was assigned to Terminal Island, San Pedro, Californian. Davis was assigned to work as a corpsman at the dispensary. Here he said he was lucky to spend his down time playing football and basketball. He proudly displays the team photo in his home. Davis remembers his father writing to him daily when he was away in the Navy.
Davis would continue to play football. For a time he played for the Angel Football team in 1948. The team was coached by Marty Lewis. While with the Marion Angels he remembers playing with Max Roseberry, later to become a Marion Police officer. They traveled as far as Cincinnati and many of the small communities around Marion. From 1949-1951 Davis played football at Ohio Northern University while he attended college. He said in those days you played most all positions, and all played both offense and defense.
While at the fire department he was well known in the community as he also worked at Krogers as a produce man. He retired and moved to Arizona where he wished to work until he turned 80. He was months short of this goal when, as a salesman, he was forced to retire after he was diagnosed with cancer. He was blessed to beat cancer and other frustrating ailments and then returned home to Marion, Ohio.
He was very proud to show me the World War Two Victory Medal that he was honored to receive while he was in the Navy. He also proudly showed me the photos of his Terminal Island football team, Ohio Northern football team, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 379 Retirement plaque, a photo of his father and other family photos when I visited him.
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 