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Robert Herron was a freshman at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when he enlisted into the United States Navy on June 7th, 1943. He enlisted into service because his older brother, William Herron, was drafted into the United States Army. He chose to enlist because he wanted a choice of branches to choose from. He chose the Navy because at that time of the war most of the fighting occurred on land and he thought the Navy was the safest branch. He later found out that it would not be as safe as he thought it would be. He went to basic training in Cleveland, Ohio and spent a little bit of time in New Orleans, Louisiana and a base in Idaho. However, he was sent to war soon after.
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Life on Robert Herron’s Destroyer Escort was nothing compared to college life back in Ohio. He sent letters and telegrams back and forth to family and friends to keep in touch with them, which really helped him get through the war. Food on the ship wasn’t too bad because the cook was pretty good, which he enjoyed a lot. On the ship he had ample supplies, just enough to get him through the war. Like most if not all of the soldiers, the effects of war was very stressful for him. Entertainment on the ship wasn’t very exciting; his favorite part was going into ports and having fun in the cities. He told stories of going to pubs and different types of live shows, such as Vaudeville shows, in Paris and other cities in Europe. While on leave he would go to pubs and he would try as much as he could to see his brother, who was in Europe and Northern Africa during the war.
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Robert Herron was a Quarter Master on a Destroyer Escort during World War II. He spent a lot of time in Europe and the Pacific. One of his first experiences of war combat was on June 6, 1944 on the shores of Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. Robert’s job on the Destroyer Escort was to bring American troops from the Destroyers to the beaches of Normandy. The next day he traveled inland, stepping over the fallen soldiers that died in the name of liberty. There were not many casualties in his unit but he saw the destruction of war on Omaha Beach and the destruction of ships in the Pacific.
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Robert Herron exited the Navy on May 31st, 1946 in Great Lakes, Illinois. After his separation he continued his college education at the University of Mississippi, in Oxford, Mississippi, to continue getting his pre-law degree. There he was part of the Sigma Nu fraternity. After he graduated from the University of Mississippi, he attended Case Law University in Cleveland, Ohio to get his law degree. After his college career he became an attorney and settled in Westerville, Ohio. He was a partner of White, Rankin, Herron and Henry Law Offices and retired from Buckeye Union Insurance Company, both in Columbus, Ohio. He also was a trustee of Genoa Township, in Delaware County. He was a member of the DESA & LST Association and attended reunions as much as he could throughout the years.
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- Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal - WWII
- European - African - Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
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