Robert G. Caulkins was born June 9, 1922 in Oneonta, NY to Kerney A. Caulkins (1893-1958) and Irene Gertrude McCarthy (1896-1958). His parents were married on October 15, 1917 in Utica, NY. His dad was born in Mt. Vision, NY and his mom was born in Cooperstown, NY.   Records from the 1920, 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census recorded he had an older sister, Helen E., younger sisters Alice M and Loretta and younger brothers William and Lawrence. The family lived at a couple of different locations in Oneonta, NY over the years but finally settled at 44 Railroad Ave. He dad worked as a laborer and a truck driver for the city. Sadly, both of Robert’s parents die within days of each other in a horrific fire that swept through their home in late March 1958.

Robert attended Oneonta High School for two years then enlisted in the Army on July 2, 1940 in Albany, NY.  He was 5'-7" tall and weighed 119 pounds.  He had blue green eyes. We know from his IDPF file that he knew a Miss Catherine Boyle as she followed up on his bank account in Casablanca after his death.  Catherine lived in Newark, N.J. at the time and in her words was "a friend" of Cpl. Caulkins.     

Initially he was assigned to the Panama Canal Department of the Quartermaster Corps. Later he was assigned to HQ 6665 Base Area Group which was activated in August 1943. This group left Casablanca in three echelons, all arriving in Naples by early October 1943. Those familiar with World War II will recognize this date as the beginning of the Naples-Foggia campaign to take back Italy from the Germans.

Although in a "Non Combatant" role, Hospital Admission Card File records indicate Robert was killed in action on October 7, 1943. He had been in the service 2 1/2 years and was only 20 years old.  Details of his death were not available but Hospital Admission Card File data suggest he may have been killed by a mine. It is worth noting that at least two other members of the 6665th Base Area Group were killed on the same day, both by mines. John Adams, service number 31210545 and Albert Chiperson, service number 32056964. Although no records of his death can be found at the time of this writing, these mines were likely along the beaches the 6665th landed on in Italy.  Cpl. Caukin's IDPF provided no additional information as to the cause of his death. 

Cpl. Caulkins was initially buried in the Naples Allied Cemetery, Italy and later, at the request of his parents,  his remains were escorted home by Cpl. Richard Keller and re-interred in the Woodlawn National Cemetery, Elmira, NY in Section F Lot 4126 on December 1, 1948. A December 17, 1943 Cooperstown, NY paper reported that his parents received his Purple Heart.

If you notice anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact Jim Greenberg at nez13820@gmail.com

Sources:

Year:1930; Census Place:Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Page:4A; Enumeration District:0027; FHL microfilm:2341370

Ancestry.com.New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942[database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018. Original data:New York State Birth Index, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY.

National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA;Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID:1263923; Record Group Title:Records of the National Archives and Records Administration,1789-ca. 2007; Record Group:64; Box Number:00761; Reel:69 , accessed at https://www.fold3.com/record/83482670/robert-g-caulkins-wwii-army-enlistment-records, July 24, 2022.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/478277/robert-g-caulkins: accessed 02 March 2023), memorial page for CPL Robert G Caulkins (9 Jun 1922–7 Oct 1943), Find a Grave Memorial ID 478277, citing Woodlawn National Cemetery, Elmira, Chemung County, New York, USA; Maintained by Dee (contributor 47925131). 

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234049165/helen-e-kania: accessed 02 March 2023), memorial page for Helen E. Caulkins Kania (16 Dec 1918–9 May 2013), Find a Grave Memorial ID 234049165, citing Mount Calvary Cemetery, Emmons, Otsego County, New York, USA; Maintained by suscat (contributor 47662692). 

The Otsego Farmer, Dec. 17, 1943, pg. 7, accessed via Fultonhistory.com, July 24, 2022.

Smith, Kenneth V., Naples-Foggia, The Campaigns of World War II, accessed at https://www.history.army.mil/html/books/072/72-17/CMH_Pub_72-17.pdf, July 24, 2022.

Oneonta Women Dies in Flames After Gasoline Explosion, The Oneonta Star, March 31, 1958, pg. 3

U.S. Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954, accessed via FOLD3 at https://www.fold3.com/record/703532158/caulkins-robert-g-us-wwii-hospital-admission-card-files-1942-1954, July 24, 2022.

Supporting Files: