Pfc Robert Lee Shular 34961079
Pfc Robert Lee Shular 34961079 US Army. He was born on December 25, 1925 in Hayesville, Clay county, North Carolina. He was the son of Thomas Jefferson Shular, and Bonnie Susan Worley Shular. He entered the US Army on February 23, 1944 at the age of 18 at Fort Bragg North Carolina.. At the time of his enlistment he was listed as being 6 feet tall and weighing 146 pounds. After Fort Bragg he trained at Fort McCullen, Alabama. On July 21, 1944 He entered G Company, at Camp Van Dorn. He entered H Company on October 4, 1944 September 21, 1944, at Camp Van Dorn. He served as a Machine Gunner in 4th Platoon, H Company, 253rd Infantry regiment, 63rd Infantry Division during his entire time in Combat.
On April 5, 1945 on a ridge southwest of the town of Untergriesheim around 1600 hours 3rd Platoon, Company F supported by three tanks, arrived on the ridge and started moving forward through H Companies defenses in attack formation. “All hell broke loose again with increased enemy artillery, rockets, mortars and 20mm antiaircraft fire to counter the attack.” The 17th SS quickly repealed the attacking force withdrew leaving behind two, of the three, tanks that were disabled.
Tech Sgt. Boyd R. Hollis 20545408 was caught out of his hole and immediately, on instinct, jumped into the nearest hole. The hole was occupied by Pfc. Bill W. Clark 34979070 and Pfc Robert L. Shular 34961079 two machine gunners from H Company. The space was limited as the hole was only 2 feet by 4 feet by 5 feet deep. Because the hole was only about 10 yards from S/Sgt. John J. R. Kinney fox hole Kinney called to Sergeant Hollis to come over and join Kinney, as there was plenty of room in Kinney hole since no one else was in the hole. According to Kinney “Frankly, I appreciated having company under these frightening circumstances. He welcomed the invitation, dashed over, jumped in, and waited out the barrage with me… Shortly, a large explosion occurred in the foxhole he had just left.” A large projectile most likely a 105mm round landed directly into the foxhole and more than likely killed the two occupants.”When t the incoming barrage died down, Sergeant Hollis and Sergeant Kinney went to investigate the hole that had been demolished. Pfc. Bill W. Clark was dead. Pfc Robert L. Shular was wounded by shrapnel in all parts of his anatomy, but particularly in his torso. Sergeant Kinney joined three other Gls to help carry the stretcher out with Pfc Robert L. Shular. When Kinney was carrying the stretcher down the hill to the battalion aid station. “The thing that moved me most about this event was when I noticed the near mortally wounded soldier trying to speak. I leaned down close to his face and heard him faintly say, “I’m just glad to be alive.”-very emotional for me. From the numerous wounds he suffered, I didn’t think he was going to make it.
Shular wounds left him in a coma for several weeks. He did not know how he got from the German battlefield to Alabama. He awoke with most of one lung removed. He made it back to the United States on May 29, 1945 he stayed in Hospitals until July 26, 1945 when he was medical discharged at Oliver General Hospital in Augusta Georgia. At the time of his discharge he was 5 foot 10 1/2 inches tall weighed 134 pounds and Blue eyes and Brown Hair. He had five children with Doris Maney. He died on April 30, 1978, in Gwinnett, Georgia, at the age of 52. Private First Class, Shular, was awarded the Bronze Star Medals with oak leaf cluster, the Purple Heart Medal (PHM), The Combat Infantry Badge, the American Theater of Operations Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater of operations Medal, and the World War Two Victory Medal. In the year 2000 he along with all the other members of 2nd Battalion 253rd Infantry Regiment were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for the fighting during April 4, – 12, 1945.
Sources:
1- 63rd Division Records
2- https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&q=34961079&bc=&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=5331666
3- MY MILITARY MEMOIRS by John J.R. Kinney, Lt. Col. (USAF, Retired)
4- North Carolina, Discharge and Statement of Service Records
5- World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
6- the North Carolina, Birth Indexes, 1800-2000
7- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
8- U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
9- TroiSutton on ancestry
10- lancecove on ancestry
