Remembrance

Robert Allen Espenshade was the son of Daniel and Bertha Espenshade and the brother to six siblings. At the young age of 19, he enlisted for the U.S. Army. He gave up a life with family and friends to serve our country. He risked his life in the Invasion of Sicily, was wounded in action and recovered. In the days following the Invasion of Normandy, he was fatally wounded June 13th and passed away on January 18th, 1943. This brave young man made the ultimate sacrifice in a fight for freedom. He was one of many soldiers who put other's lives before their own in order to defeat our enemies and defend our country. Private Espenshade's selflessness and service will not be forgotten. 

Date of Death: January 18, 1943

Rank at time of death: Private First Class

Awards and medals:

Silver Star  - The Silver Star Medal was established in 1932 as an exclusively U.S. Army (War Department) award. It is awarded for gallantry in action against and enemy of the United States. It is now able to be given to any branch and is the United States' highest award for combat valor that is not unique to any specific branch. 

Purple Heart - The Purple Heart is the oldest active military medal in the US and over 1 million were awarded during WWII. It is awarded in the name of the President to those who wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States or as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed forces.

World War II Victory Medal - Awarded for service during WWII.

American Campaign Medal - Awarded for U.S. military service in the American Theater for at least 30 days outside the U.S. or 1 year inside the U.S. between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946.

Army Presidential Unit Citation - Awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or after December 7, 1941.

Army Good Conduct Medal - Awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service.

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign - Awarded for serving in the armed forces in Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946.

The American St. Laurent Cemetery was temporarily established by the US First Army on June 8th, 1944 in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. It was the first American cemetery to be established in WWII in Europe. This site is now where the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is located. 9,387 of the United States' military dead are buried there, most having lost their lives on D-Day or the following operations. The names of 1,557 missing soldiers are inscribed on the Walls of the Missing, located on the east side of the memorial. At the center of the memorial is the "Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves" bronze statue. With one million visitors a year, the Normandy American Cemetery is the most visited cemetery kept by the American Battle Monuments Commission. The cemetery is 172.5 acres.

Right Top: The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial located in Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France

Left Top: Plot F Row 4 Grave 3, Private Espenshade's headstone at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.

Right Below: The First Infantry Division Monument on Omaha Beach, France - Private Espenshade's name is one of many commemorated on the monument.

Left Below: Private Espenshade's cenotaph at Shenks Community Cemetery (Deodate, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, USA)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newspaper clipping reporting Private Espenshade's service and death.

 

 

 

 

Next of Kin Correspondence and Private Espenshade's burial:

The first two documents show that Private Espenshade was interred at La Cambe cemetery in France, Plot E, Row 1, Grave 14. This was one of two temporary cemeteries established by the US in the summer of 1944. The second document shows that his remains were transferred to "Casketing Point B" in St. Laurent. This is what became the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. The final three documents show the correspondence to Private Espenshade's next of kin - his father, Daniel Espenshade. Private Espenshade's family chose to have his remains buried in France, however his name is also inscribed next to his parents on a memorial in Pennsylvania.