551st Parachute Infantry Association

1 month ago

"Mr. Aron Ray Kirbow, age 99 of Ruston, LA passed away on 11 October, 2023." Mr. Kirbow likely joined the 551st PIB at Camp Mackall, NC, as he was not on the original assignment orders for Panama in January of '43 nor the Sicily assignment orders for June of '44. As far as our records indicate Mr. Kirbow was the last surviving member of HQ Company to have participated in combat during the Bulge with the 551st and earned his Combat Infantry Badge on 15 August 1944, the opening day of the southern France invasion. To PFC Aron Kirbow, HQ, 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion...SALUTE!!

"Aron Kirbow was born May 18, 1924 in Quitman, LA to William Melvin and Lunie Tabor Kirbow and passed away October 11, 2023 in Ruston after a brief illness. He was a 1942 graduate of Ruston High School. After Aron graduated from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion. He was a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge where his battalion engaged in fierce combat and suffered heavy casualties. After the war, Aron married Laverne Hollis. He was employed by the Southern Bell Telephone Company, now known as AT&T, for 35 years until his retirement. Aron and Laverne were avid campers and RVers who spent several months a year at various campgrounds. They were lifelong members of Cook Baptist Church in Ruston. Aron was preceded in death by his parents and beloved wife of 75 years." quoted from Mr. Kirbow's obituary.

Obituary:
www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com/obituary/aron-kirbow

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551st Parachute Infantry Association

2 months ago

Much gratitude to our Belgian Outpost representative for the Association, Eddy Lamberty, for visiting Henri-Chapelle American cemetery in Belgium, the final resting place of many heroes that made the ultimate sacrifice during the Battle of the Bulge. Fourteen of them were members of the 551st PIB. Of course Eddy visited many other adopted heroes this weekend as well, who fought with other units that were involved with liberating his home during WWII. Once Eddy returned home he put together frames and added pictures to each individual hero that he had pictures of, shared here...GOYA! I thought we would start with Robert Hill and share a little of his final actions. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions at Rochelinval.

"Corporal Hill, on the morning of 7 January 1945 while participating with his platoon in the attack by the 1st Battalion 551st Parachute Infantry (Reinforced) on the town of ROCHELINVAL, BELGIUM, saw an automatic rifleman go down under enemy fire. Corporal Hill crawled for a distance of twenty-five (25) yards to the casualty and recovered the weapon, then standing upright, fully exposed to intense machine gun fire, in order to locate the enemy weapon emplacements, the soldier opened fire and advanced toward the hostile positions.

Twice wounded, Corporal Hill continued to advance and fire until he had silenced the nearest machine gun. Almost immediately he was hit for a third time and fell mortally wounded.

Corporal Hill's heroic action and complete disregard of his own safety in the face of certain death, enabled the remnants of his platoon to extricate themselves from an untenable position where they were exposed to merciless fire. His actions reflect the highest traditions of the Army of the United States." - Marshall Dalton (15 Jan 45)

"It is felt that the actions of Corporal Robert H. Hill (Deceased) warrant the award of the Distinguished Service Cross." - M. B. Ridgway, Major General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

Eyewitness accounts:

First - "On the morning of 7 Jan 1945 I was platoon leader of the 2d platoon, 551st Prcht. Bn. participating in an attack upon the village of Rochelinval, Belgium. At approximately 0900 on that morning the 1st platoon jumped off, under command of Lt. Durkee, and almost immediately came under MG fire...

At this time Lt Buckmeyer, the acting company commander, gave the order to withdraw. As I looked up the road to relay the order to the 1st platoon I saw one man, Corporal Robert Hill, crawl to a fallen man, grab his BAR, then recklessly exposing himself to full view, begin firing directly on the MG at the top of the hill. Corporal Hill then began to advance on the gun and continued to advance until he fell. He silenced the gun and allowed us to carry out our withdrawal. - Joseph Kienly, 1st Lt.

Second - "On 7 Jan 1945, Co "A", 551st Prcht. Bn. had a mission of attacking and holding the Belgium town of Rochelinval. The strength of the company at that time was 36 men, due to the fact that they had been pushing the Germans back for 5 days. At the line of departure the 1st platoon led the attack, 300 yards from the west end of town the Germans opened up with MG's, killing and wounding the scouts, Lt. Durkee, pla. ldr., put the LMG in action and started a flanking move. His LMG gunner and assistant was killed at this time and the Co. Comdr. ordered the Pla. to withdraw. Cpl Hill, who had taken over his squad upon hearing of the death of his squad ldr., picked up a BAR from the dead BAR man and spotting the enemy MG he stood up and fired his BAR and covered the withdrawal of his platoon, though severely wounded he changed clips and continued to fire, knocking out one of the MG's. Severely hit, he went to his knees but continued to fire until he was killed by the enemy fire.

For this action of Cpl Hill, the withdrawal of the platoon was successful, and with minimum casualties.

I, Lt. Durkee, was an eyewitness to this gallant action." - R. W. Durkee, Lt. Inf.

Just one story of the many heroes laid to rest who never made it home, so that others could. To all of these young heroes lying silent beneath small white crosses reminding us that our freedom is never free...SALUTE! Thank you all for the sacrifice, and our freedom. GOYA!!

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