PFC Pervey S. Robinson
Today we honor and remember PFC Pervey S. Robinson of the 101st Airborne Division.
Private First Class (PFC) Pervey Silas Robinson of Baker Battery, 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion (GFAB), was born in Jemison, Chilton County, Alabama, to Pinkney L. and Mary J. (Varden) Robinson on May 21, 1913. Pervey had three brothers, William E., Roman B., and Raymond O’Neal Robinson, as well as three sisters, Flossie B., Nola M., and Myrtle L. Robinson.
Pervey registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, at Jemison, Chilton County, Alabama. He entered the service from Camp Shelby, Mississippi, on March 6, 1942, and was assigned to the 321st GFAB.
He was united in marriage with Odell Thrash on June 22, 1943.
Gary Dettore’s fine book, Screaming Eagle Gliders, The 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion of the 101st Airborne Division in World War II, describes what happened on the day when PFC Robinson met his fate.
On November 18, 1SGT Timothy Shea gave the okay for three soldiers to go to the showers, which had been set up in Nijmegen in the back of some trailers by the division engineers. The routine was simple: shower, get their clothes dry-cleaned, have a meal, see a movie, and get back to the battalion.
PFC Pervey Robinson, the Baker Battery barber, from Sylacauga, Alabama, PFC John Patterson (Baker Battery) from Anderson, South Carolina, and PFC Frank Kanspik (Baker Battery) from Chicago, Illinois, were heading back from the showers when a German 88 round came in and exploded in front of their jeep. All were instantly killed by shell fragments to the head. The next day, the division got the dog tags and started to call various units to determine which one the soldiers had belonged to.
Just before the battalion departed for Holland, a telegram came from the Red Cross for Robinson: his wife had just delivered twin boys. A small party was held for the father.”
Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅
The message that her husband was killed in action so shortly after their sons were born must have been devastating news for the young wife of PFC Robinson.
PFC Pervey Robinson died at the age of 31, on November 18, 1944. According to the Pulles Rosters, he was killed in action close to the town of Zetten on the Island. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart Medal.
After his initial internment in the temporary military cemetery of Molenhoek near Nijmegen, the Netherlands, at Block F, Row 4, Grave 63, he was reburied at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, at Block G, Row 4, Grave 4, in the winter of 1949. May he rest in peace.
Happy Birthday in Heaven, Pervey.
Lest we forget. 🇺🇸
The sources used for this article are known to the author and available on request.
The strange thing is that he isnt mentioned in any morning report for the month November nor December 1944.
Dear Pervey,first of all a happy Heavenly Birthday Trooper🫶
'The Island' lower Betuwe was in those days a bad place to be,wet,cold and muddy!!
You fought the battle,and after that,after so many days you all deserved a warm bath,you survived that battle so far but that bad accident ended your life,not knowing your wife gave birth to two new life's days before!!
You would never see and never could hug them in your arms!
As a father I feel the pain your family must had have when they got the message of your death.
Never made it home,and now resting in European soil!
Rest in Peace PFC Pervey S. Robinson,thank you for your Service....you will never be forgotten 🫡🇺🇸🫡🇳🇱🫡