Robert J. Reasoner was born on September 26, 1918 in New Plymouth, Ohio. He was the son of Eugene F. Reasoner (b. 1876, d. 1945) and Myrtle M. Hewitt Reasoner (b. 1892, d. 1934). Robert was called “Bob,” proudly “Uncle Bob” or affectionately “Papa Bob”. Bob enlisted in the United States Army on March 7, 1942 as a Private at Camp Blanding, Starke, Clay County, Florida, following four years of high school. On January 3, 1943, he returned to England after their group had bombed the German submarine pens at St. Nazaire, France. Sgt. Reasoner was the tail gunner on his fourth combat Mission. 3 crew mates were killed, seven were injured including Sgt. Reasoner. During his fifth combat mission Reasoner was hit by a German machine gun bullet when Messerschmidt Me-109 fighter planes raked his formation. His crew was taken off combat status and went on detached service practicing low-level bombing runs. Bob was then transferred to Libya where he took part in the first air strikes on Rome. On August 1, 1943, Bob survived the disastrous Ploesti Oil Fields Raid, Ploesti, Rumania. This raid was designed to take out Germany’s ability to fuel planes, trucks and tanks. This raid became known as the worse Allied air disaster of World War II. After the Ploesti Oil Fields Raid, he was sent back wounded three times. Bob was horribly burned before being shot down and captured by the Germans. On Sgt. Reasoner’s 21st bombing mission, this time over Austria, the war ended for him. His B-24 was hit by anti-aircraft fire. According to Bob, “I looked out and saw the copitol wave.” He said, “When I looked back the waist was full of fire.” Bob Reasoner escaped and parachuted. He didn’t remember anything about his descent since his face and hands were searing. Bob was unconscious for a long time. He remembered the face of an Austrian doctor who took good care of him. He finally left the hospital and was grouped for a month or so with English prisoners in Stalag 17A (German Prison Camp). Due to his severe injuries Bob was one of the few American POW’s exchanged during the war by the Germans. He arrived back in New York Harbor in September 1944.
Military Awards
Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Soldiers Medal, Air Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Three (3) Purple Hearts, Prisoner of War, Victory World War II.
Bob married twice to two beautiful and wonderful southern ladies. He was first married to Pauline Wilma Westberry Peacock (b. August 4, 1916, d. January 6, 1989) the daughter of James Ancil Westberry (b. December 28, 1888, d. March 15, 1974) and Lura Elizabeth Butler Westberry (b. April 21, 1890, d. June 17, 1928). To Bob and Pauline there were no children born. Pauline brought two daughters to their marriage from her first marriage to Beverly Alton Peacock. Bob’s second marriage was to Bernice Fairchild Hudgens (b. 1926). Bernice had two children from her first marriage.
Sgt. Reasoner went on with his life by graduating from the University of Miami in Miami, Florida under the G.I. Bill. He then went on to a career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He enjoyed retirement in Mountville with his wife Bernice, working in his yard and restoring his circa 1914 home. When asked, “How does it feel to be a veteran?”, Sgt. Reasoner jokingly replies, “It’s great to be a veteran when you are alive.”
The members of his extended family included:
From First Marriage: 2 Step daughters, 5 step grandchildren, 6 step nephews
3 step nieces, Numerous great step nieces and nephews
From Second Marriage: 2 step sons and daughters, Numerous step nieces and nephews
“A very moving, poignant tribute was paid to Sgt. Reasoner on the floor of the House of Representatives by S. Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan on July 24, 2014.” Here's the YouTube: videolink.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3gYM99gqLI&feature=youtu.be&list=UU1tuXL6ymImdpKYGEAH83QA
- Friends of Falls Cemetery
Bio-Sketch submitted by Douglas B. Westberry (Nephew). Numerous sources were used as well as most importantly personal family information and knowledge.
Military Awards
Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Soldiers Medal, Air Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Three (3) Purple Hearts, Prisoner of War, Victory World War II.
Bob married twice to two beautiful and wonderful southern ladies. He was first married to Pauline Wilma Westberry Peacock (b. August 4, 1916, d. January 6, 1989) the daughter of James Ancil Westberry (b. December 28, 1888, d. March 15, 1974) and Lura Elizabeth Butler Westberry (b. April 21, 1890, d. June 17, 1928). To Bob and Pauline there were no children born. Pauline brought two daughters to their marriage from her first marriage to Beverly Alton Peacock. Bob’s second marriage was to Bernice Fairchild Hudgens (b. 1926). Bernice had two children from her first marriage.
Sgt. Reasoner went on with his life by graduating from the University of Miami in Miami, Florida under the G.I. Bill. He then went on to a career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He enjoyed retirement in Mountville with his wife Bernice, working in his yard and restoring his circa 1914 home. When asked, “How does it feel to be a veteran?”, Sgt. Reasoner jokingly replies, “It’s great to be a veteran when you are alive.”
The members of his extended family included:
From First Marriage: 2 Step daughters, 5 step grandchildren, 6 step nephews
3 step nieces, Numerous great step nieces and nephews
From Second Marriage: 2 step sons and daughters, Numerous step nieces and nephews
“A very moving, poignant tribute was paid to Sgt. Reasoner on the floor of the House of Representatives by S. Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan on July 24, 2014.” Here's the YouTube: videolink.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3gYM99gqLI&feature=youtu.be&list=UU1tuXL6ymImdpKYGEAH83QA
- Friends of Falls Cemetery
Bio-Sketch submitted by Douglas B. Westberry (Nephew). Numerous sources were used as well as most importantly personal family information and knowledge.
Robert J. Reasoner was born on September 26, 1918 in New Plymouth, Ohio. He was the son of Eugene F. Reasoner (b. 1876, d. 1945) and Myrtle M. Hewitt Reasoner (b. 1892, d. 1934). Robert was called “Bob,” proudly “Uncle Bob” or affectionately “Papa Bob”. Bob enlisted in the United States Army on March 7, 1942 as a Private at Camp Blanding, Starke, Clay County, Florida, following four years of high school. On January 3, 1943, he returned to England after their group had bombed the German submarine pens at St. Nazaire, France. Sgt. Reasoner was the tail gunner on his fourth combat Mission. 3 crew mates were killed, seven were injured including Sgt. Reasoner. During his fifth combat mission Reasoner was hit by a German machine gun bullet when Messerschmidt Me-109 fighter planes raked his formation. His crew was taken off combat status and went on detached service practicing low-level bombing runs. Bob was then transferred to Libya where he took part in the first air strikes on Rome. On August 1, 1943, Bob survived the disastrous Ploesti Oil Fields Raid, Ploesti, Rumania. This raid was designed to take out Germany’s ability to fuel planes, trucks and tanks. This raid became known as the worse Allied air disaster of World War II. After the Ploesti Oil Fields Raid, he was sent back wounded three times. Bob was horribly burned before being shot down and captured by the Germans. On Sgt. Reasoner’s 21st bombing mission, this time over Austria, the war ended for him. His B-24 was hit by anti-aircraft fire. According to Bob, “I looked out and saw the copitol wave.” He said, “When I looked back the waist was full of fire.” Bob Reasoner escaped and parachuted. He didn’t remember anything about his descent since his face and hands were searing. Bob was unconscious for a long time. He remembered the face of an Austrian doctor who took good care of him. He finally left the hospital and was grouped for a month or so with English prisoners in Stalag 17A (German Prison Camp). Due to his severe injuries Bob was one of the few American POW’s exchanged during the war by the Germans. He arrived back in New York Harbor in September 1944.
Military Awards
Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Soldiers Medal, Air Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Three (3) Purple Hearts, Prisoner of War, Victory World War II.
Bob married twice to two beautiful and wonderful southern ladies. He was first married to Pauline Wilma Westberry Peacock (b. August 4, 1916, d. January 6, 1989) the daughter of James Ancil Westberry (b. December 28, 1888, d. March 15, 1974) and Lura Elizabeth Butler Westberry (b. April 21, 1890, d. June 17, 1928). To Bob and Pauline there were no children born. Pauline brought two daughters to their marriage from her first marriage to Beverly Alton Peacock. Bob’s second marriage was to Bernice Fairchild Hudgens (b. 1926). Bernice had two children from her first marriage.
Sgt. Reasoner went on with his life by graduating from the University of Miami in Miami, Florida under the G.I. Bill. He then went on to a career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He enjoyed retirement in Mountville with his wife Bernice, working in his yard and restoring his circa 1914 home. When asked, “How does it feel to be a veteran?”, Sgt. Reasoner jokingly replies, “It’s great to be a veteran when you are alive.”
The members of his extended family included:
From First Marriage: 2 Step daughters, 5 step grandchildren, 6 step nephews
3 step nieces, Numerous great step nieces and nephews
From Second Marriage: 2 step sons and daughters, Numerous step nieces and nephews
“A very moving, poignant tribute was paid to Sgt. Reasoner on the floor of the House of Representatives by S. Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan on July 24, 2014.” Here's the YouTube: videolink.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3gYM99gqLI&feature=youtu.be&list=UU1tuXL6ymImdpKYGEAH83QA
- Friends of Falls Cemetery
Bio-Sketch submitted by Douglas B. Westberry (Nephew). Numerous sources were used as well as most importantly personal family information and knowledge.
Military Awards
Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Soldiers Medal, Air Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Three (3) Purple Hearts, Prisoner of War, Victory World War II.
Bob married twice to two beautiful and wonderful southern ladies. He was first married to Pauline Wilma Westberry Peacock (b. August 4, 1916, d. January 6, 1989) the daughter of James Ancil Westberry (b. December 28, 1888, d. March 15, 1974) and Lura Elizabeth Butler Westberry (b. April 21, 1890, d. June 17, 1928). To Bob and Pauline there were no children born. Pauline brought two daughters to their marriage from her first marriage to Beverly Alton Peacock. Bob’s second marriage was to Bernice Fairchild Hudgens (b. 1926). Bernice had two children from her first marriage.
Sgt. Reasoner went on with his life by graduating from the University of Miami in Miami, Florida under the G.I. Bill. He then went on to a career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He enjoyed retirement in Mountville with his wife Bernice, working in his yard and restoring his circa 1914 home. When asked, “How does it feel to be a veteran?”, Sgt. Reasoner jokingly replies, “It’s great to be a veteran when you are alive.”
The members of his extended family included:
From First Marriage: 2 Step daughters, 5 step grandchildren, 6 step nephews
3 step nieces, Numerous great step nieces and nephews
From Second Marriage: 2 step sons and daughters, Numerous step nieces and nephews
“A very moving, poignant tribute was paid to Sgt. Reasoner on the floor of the House of Representatives by S. Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan on July 24, 2014.” Here's the YouTube: videolink.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3gYM99gqLI&feature=youtu.be&list=UU1tuXL6ymImdpKYGEAH83QA
- Friends of Falls Cemetery
Bio-Sketch submitted by Douglas B. Westberry (Nephew). Numerous sources were used as well as most importantly personal family information and knowledge.
Family Members
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