Robert P. T R A U T E R
M A N was born in 1926 in Pennsylvania. Shortly after graduating high school in
June of 1944, at the young age of 18, he voluntarily enlisted in the Army. Upon
completion of basic training he was sent over to the ETO as a replacement for
the hard-fighting, battle-weary 80th “Blue Ridge” Infantry Division
on February 26, 1945. He was assigned to “A” Company in the 318th
Infantry Regiment. A few short weeks after joining his company, his war story
would take a traumatic turn. On March 15, 1945, the 318th met stiff
resistance in the woods northwest of Britten, Germany. Enemy small arms fire
was intense in this sector. The enemy cratered the roads north of Britten and
defended the roadways with fortified MG positions and mortars. The 1st
Battalion had broken through the resistance on the roads to Bergen however and
entered the town. During this attack, PVT T R A U T E R M A N was wounded in
his right leg. His wounds were serious enough that after his recuperation
overseas, he was shipped back to the States on a med-transport ship in May of
’45.
Upon his return, Robert attended Trine University in
Indiana receiving his degree in engineering in 1950. He spent the next 30 years
serving as a chemical engineer at the Allegheny Lunlum Steel Corp in
Pennsylvania. T R A U T E R M A N passed away in May of 2009 at the age of 83.
His time in combat was relatively short compared to
most and because of it; he only received one campaign star on his EAME ribbon.
However, the sacrifices that this young Private paid defending our country
should never be forgotten.
The uniform itself came out of Pennsylvania and is a
gorgeous 4-pocket “cut down” that was tailored to match the Ikes of that era.
The tailor did a fantastic job and all of the original brass buttons were
reused. It is laundry marked to T R A U T E R M A N in two places. With “waxy
coated” ribbon bars and a sterling CIB, this uniform is truly a stunner. Thanks
to all for looking and if there is an 80th Division collector on
here, don’t hesitate to send me a PM!
