World War II Honoree

Robert J. Baasch

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Savage, Minnesota

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS A PRIVATE IN THE INTELLIGENCE AND RECONNAISSANCE PLATOON, 394TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 99TH INFANTRY DIVISION THAT WAS ORDERED TO HOLD AT ALL COST IN THE DEFENSE OF LANZERATH, BELGIUM DURING THE OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE ON DECEMBER 16, 1944. VASTLY OUTNUMBERED BY THE GERMANS HE AND THE REST OF THE PLATOON OF 18 MEN HELD OFF THE GERMANS FOR OVER 18 HOURS, THUS ALLOWING THE AMERICANS TO ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL DEFENSIVE POSITIONS. WHEN HE AND HIS PLATOON HAD EXPENDED ALL THEIR AMMUNITION THEY WERE CAPTURED AND TAKEN PRISONERS UNTIL THEY WERE LIBERATED IN APRIL 1945. HE WAS AWARDED THE AMERICAN THEATRE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND THE BRONZE STAR WITH VALOR DEVICE.