US AIRBORNE

Robert Thomas Koelle was born in Philadelphia, PA USA in 1917.

He was the second child of Albert T. and Juliet Koelle. He had six brothers and three sisters (10 children in all).

He was enlisted April 29, 1942 in Philadelphia. Before that, he worked as a welder.

He did his basic training in Ft. Franklin, NC and was a member of the coastal artillery. He then was accepted for paratroopers school in Ft. Benning, GA and on graduating in 1943, he joined the 82nd Airborne.

He was sent to North Africa and was in a replacement camp there for three months, finally being sent to Italy, where he was at Anzio. That's when he joined the H Company, 504th PIR.
His 4 brothers were also in the army. One was a captain, one lieutenant, a sergeant and corporal last. In a letter written to his mother, he told him with Private, she has the complete collection.

After the battle in Italy, with this regiment, he was sent in England.

All of the brothers were in England at the same time two days before Robert Koelle's unit went to Holland and they all met at an air base outside of London where another brother was working and spent a few hours together. It was the last time his brothers would see Bob.

Bob participated in Operation Market Garden September 17, 1944. On September 20, 1944, during the famous Waal river crossing at Nijmegen.
He lost his life while his comrades, they started to attack the banks held by the Germans on board small light boats.

He was buried in Nijmegen until his remains were brought home to Philadephia, PA in 1947 and buried in the family cemetery plot.