Rome, NY WWII Fallen

PFC. Robert J. Egan

U.S. Army #6878869

771st Tank Destroyer Battalion

Robert John Egan was born July 3, 1917, in Rome, Oneida County, New York, to Martin M. (1869-1952) and Anna E. Bungert (1879-1930) Egan. Martin was born in Schenectady, New York, Anna was born in Rome, New York, and they were married May 2, 1901, at St. Mary’s Church, Rome, New York. For 41 years, Martin was the Rome, New York, Yard Conductor for the New York Central Railroad, and known as “Marty” to friends and hundreds of children who lived near the railroad yards.

Robert was the sixth of seven children born to Martin and Anna Egan: May Irene (1902-1926), Martin M. Jr. (1905-?), Edward P. (1906-1968), Charles T. (1909-1992), Francis J. (1915-1965), Robert J. (1917-1944), and William H. (1919-2000). Robert graduated from St. Mary’s School and attended Rome Free Academy. His mother, Anna Egan, passed away suddenly on June 2, 1930.

Robert entered the U.S. Army in 1936 at age 18 and served four years, returning home in 1940. On October 16, 1940, Robert registered for the draft in Rome, New York. He was 5’ 4 ½” tall, weighed 135 pounds, and had brown hair and brown eyes. Robert listed his father, Martin M. Egan, at 611 Kent Street, Rome, New York, as the “person who will always know your address.” Robert was living with his father and working at Revere Copper and Brass in Rome, New York. He was recalled to active service within eight months of returning home and sent to Pine Camp, New York. He was later assigned to the 771st Tank Destroyer Battalion.

On June 2, 1941, he married Irene Doris Bond of Westmoreland, New York, in the Rectory of St. Mary’s Church. Their daughter, Lueen Elsie Egan, was born November 19, 1943. Robert never saw his daughter.

Pertinent quotes from the 771st Tank Destroyer Battalion History, January 1, 1944, to December 31, 1944, as reproduced at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kansas:

The 771st Tank Destroyer Battalion was activated December 15, 1941, at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont.

Overseas stations included Wenvoe Camp, Barry, Glamorganshire, Wales, January to May 1944, Braunton Camp, Devonshire, England, May to August 1994, Fontainebleau, Seine et-Marne, France, September to October 1944, and Tongres, Belgium, October 1944.

Campaigns: The 771st Tank Destroyer Battalion, attached to 102nd Infantry Division, participated in the Battle of Germany from 24 October 1944 to 31 December 1944, with the purpose of aiding in the defeat of Germany. The Battalion first entered combat on the 3rd of November and has done all of its fighting in Germany, between the Wurm and Roer Rivers, from Geilenkirchen to Flosdorf. During this period, elements of the German 183rd Volks-Grenadier Division, the 34th Volks-Grenadier Division, the 9th Panzer Division, and the 10th S.S. Panzer division have been encountered, and gains of approximately five and one-half miles to seven miles have been recorded. The 771st Tank Destroyer Battalion was initially committed to action per TWX (i.e. teletypewriter exchange service), from the Commanding General, Ninth U.S. Army, dated 1 November 1944.

The 771st Tank Destroyer Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel David DeGraff Smith, was initially committed to action on 3 November 1944, under operational control of the 102nd Infantry Division. This was a defensive zone, from Gangelt, Germany, to Frelenberg, Germany. During this time small arms, mortar and artillery fire were received.

From the 6th to the 12th of November, the firing companies with attached Reconnaissance Platoons were in primary positions in the vicinity of Stahe, Gilrath, Nierstras, and Teveren. During this period A and B companies conducted harassing indirect fire missions. Two direct fire missions consisting of church steeple and cement tower, suspected artillery observation posts were demolished.

On 17 November, C Company moved into position in the vicinity of Immendorf, in support of the 40th Regimental Combat Team (RCT). …… On 201200 November, two PzKw VI’s (i.e. Panzer Kampfwagen or Tiger II) appeared, were taken under fire and hit but not destroyed. Two M-10 destroyers were lost. Four PzKw VI’s appeared at 201600 November, of which two were destroyed and two M-10 destroyers were lost.

On 210900 November, B Company relieved C Company in support of the 406th Regimental Combat Team from positions in the area of Apweiler and Gereonsweiler.

Losses in Action, Officers and Men: In offensive action from 17 November to 21 November 1944, in the vicinity of Apweiler, Germany, the following officers and enlisted men were lost in action:

Killed in Action:

Egan, Robert J, 6878869, Pfc, 21 Nov 44

His father and his wife received official word by telegram from the War Department which reported the date of his death as November 18, 1944, near Apweiler, Germany. All other sources state 18 November 1944 as the official date of death.

PFC Robert J. Egan was buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands, Plot E, Row 6, Grave 3. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Rome Medal of Honor. PFC Robert Egan was the 41st Roman to give his life for his country in World War II.

At the time of his death, two of his brothers were also in the Armed Services: Sgt. Francis J. Egan was somewhere in Belgium, and Pvt. William H. Egan was in Wyoming. Francis Egan was an active member of the Rome, New York, post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and served in positions there and in the Mohawk-Adirondacks Counties Council of the VFW.

End notes: This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project, a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3 web sites. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery. If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact hillerson@beyondbb.com.