Robert James Irby was the son of World War I Army veteran Albert Zephie "A.Z." Irby and Jessie Lou Baldwin. He was raised in Desha County and received his childhood education in the public school system.
The 1940 US Census, shows the family as living in Red Fork Township, Desha County, Arkansas, with the following family members living in the home:
Head Albert Z Irby M 46 Arkansas
Wife Jessie Irby F 40 Arkansas
Son Albert Z Irby M 19 Arkansas
Son Robert Irby M 17 Arkansas
Dau Desiree Irby F 14 Arkansas
Dau Mary Irby F 12 Arkansas
Dau Margaret Irby F 10 Arkansas
Son Edward Irby M 6 Arkansas
Robert enlisted in the US Army on 9/4/1943 for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law at Little Rock, Arkansas. Upon completion of his basic training and infantry training, he was assigned to the 359th Infantry Regiment (IR), 90th Infantry Division (ID). The 90th Infantry Division landed in England on 4/5/1944, and trained from 10 April to 4 June.
The 359th IR first saw combat action on D-Day, 6/6/1944, on Utah Beach, Normandy, and elements of the regiment continued to land on the beach through 10 June. The 359th then began moving across the Merderet River to take Pont l'Abbe in heavy fighting. After defensive action along the river Douve, the division attacked to clear the Foret de Mont-Castre (AKA Hill 122), and was successful in clearing it on 11 July, in spite of fierce German resistance. An attack on the island of Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves failing, 23 July, the 90th bypassed it and took Périers on 7/27/1944.
On 8/12, the division drove across the Sarthe River, north and east of Le Mans, and took part in the closing of the Falaise Gap, by reaching 1st Polish Armored Division in Chambois om 8/19/1944. It then raced across France, through Verdun to participate in the siege of Metz, 9/14-11/19, capturing Maizières-lès-Metz on 10/30, and crossing the Moselle River at Koenigsmacker on 11/9. Elements of the 90th Infantry assaulted and captured the German-held Fort de Koenigsmacker 9–12 November. It was during this assault that Robert was killed in action.
Robert was temporarily buried in a US Army Cemetery. After the war, his body was moved to its present burial location at Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial,
Saint-Avold, Lorraine, France.
Sergeant Robert James Irby, Sn #38515967, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Combat Infantryman's Badge
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with two bronze battle/campaign stars and assault arrowhead device
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Meritorious Unit Citation
- Army Marksmanship Badge
- Army Qualification Badge with bars
- French Croix de Guerre Unit Citation
The 1940 US Census, shows the family as living in Red Fork Township, Desha County, Arkansas, with the following family members living in the home:
Head Albert Z Irby M 46 Arkansas
Wife Jessie Irby F 40 Arkansas
Son Albert Z Irby M 19 Arkansas
Son Robert Irby M 17 Arkansas
Dau Desiree Irby F 14 Arkansas
Dau Mary Irby F 12 Arkansas
Dau Margaret Irby F 10 Arkansas
Son Edward Irby M 6 Arkansas
Robert enlisted in the US Army on 9/4/1943 for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law at Little Rock, Arkansas. Upon completion of his basic training and infantry training, he was assigned to the 359th Infantry Regiment (IR), 90th Infantry Division (ID). The 90th Infantry Division landed in England on 4/5/1944, and trained from 10 April to 4 June.
The 359th IR first saw combat action on D-Day, 6/6/1944, on Utah Beach, Normandy, and elements of the regiment continued to land on the beach through 10 June. The 359th then began moving across the Merderet River to take Pont l'Abbe in heavy fighting. After defensive action along the river Douve, the division attacked to clear the Foret de Mont-Castre (AKA Hill 122), and was successful in clearing it on 11 July, in spite of fierce German resistance. An attack on the island of Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves failing, 23 July, the 90th bypassed it and took Périers on 7/27/1944.
On 8/12, the division drove across the Sarthe River, north and east of Le Mans, and took part in the closing of the Falaise Gap, by reaching 1st Polish Armored Division in Chambois om 8/19/1944. It then raced across France, through Verdun to participate in the siege of Metz, 9/14-11/19, capturing Maizières-lès-Metz on 10/30, and crossing the Moselle River at Koenigsmacker on 11/9. Elements of the 90th Infantry assaulted and captured the German-held Fort de Koenigsmacker 9–12 November. It was during this assault that Robert was killed in action.
Robert was temporarily buried in a US Army Cemetery. After the war, his body was moved to its present burial location at Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial,
Saint-Avold, Lorraine, France.
Sergeant Robert James Irby, Sn #38515967, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Combat Infantryman's Badge
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with two bronze battle/campaign stars and assault arrowhead device
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Meritorious Unit Citation
- Army Marksmanship Badge
- Army Qualification Badge with bars
- French Croix de Guerre Unit Citation
Robert James Irby was the son of World War I Army veteran Albert Zephie "A.Z." Irby and Jessie Lou Baldwin. He was raised in Desha County and received his childhood education in the public school system.
The 1940 US Census, shows the family as living in Red Fork Township, Desha County, Arkansas, with the following family members living in the home:
Head Albert Z Irby M 46 Arkansas
Wife Jessie Irby F 40 Arkansas
Son Albert Z Irby M 19 Arkansas
Son Robert Irby M 17 Arkansas
Dau Desiree Irby F 14 Arkansas
Dau Mary Irby F 12 Arkansas
Dau Margaret Irby F 10 Arkansas
Son Edward Irby M 6 Arkansas
Robert enlisted in the US Army on 9/4/1943 for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law at Little Rock, Arkansas. Upon completion of his basic training and infantry training, he was assigned to the 359th Infantry Regiment (IR), 90th Infantry Division (ID). The 90th Infantry Division landed in England on 4/5/1944, and trained from 10 April to 4 June.
The 359th IR first saw combat action on D-Day, 6/6/1944, on Utah Beach, Normandy, and elements of the regiment continued to land on the beach through 10 June. The 359th then began moving across the Merderet River to take Pont l'Abbe in heavy fighting. After defensive action along the river Douve, the division attacked to clear the Foret de Mont-Castre (AKA Hill 122), and was successful in clearing it on 11 July, in spite of fierce German resistance. An attack on the island of Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves failing, 23 July, the 90th bypassed it and took Périers on 7/27/1944.
On 8/12, the division drove across the Sarthe River, north and east of Le Mans, and took part in the closing of the Falaise Gap, by reaching 1st Polish Armored Division in Chambois om 8/19/1944. It then raced across France, through Verdun to participate in the siege of Metz, 9/14-11/19, capturing Maizières-lès-Metz on 10/30, and crossing the Moselle River at Koenigsmacker on 11/9. Elements of the 90th Infantry assaulted and captured the German-held Fort de Koenigsmacker 9–12 November. It was during this assault that Robert was killed in action.
Robert was temporarily buried in a US Army Cemetery. After the war, his body was moved to its present burial location at Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial,
Saint-Avold, Lorraine, France.
Sergeant Robert James Irby, Sn #38515967, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Combat Infantryman's Badge
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with two bronze battle/campaign stars and assault arrowhead device
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Meritorious Unit Citation
- Army Marksmanship Badge
- Army Qualification Badge with bars
- French Croix de Guerre Unit Citation
The 1940 US Census, shows the family as living in Red Fork Township, Desha County, Arkansas, with the following family members living in the home:
Head Albert Z Irby M 46 Arkansas
Wife Jessie Irby F 40 Arkansas
Son Albert Z Irby M 19 Arkansas
Son Robert Irby M 17 Arkansas
Dau Desiree Irby F 14 Arkansas
Dau Mary Irby F 12 Arkansas
Dau Margaret Irby F 10 Arkansas
Son Edward Irby M 6 Arkansas
Robert enlisted in the US Army on 9/4/1943 for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law at Little Rock, Arkansas. Upon completion of his basic training and infantry training, he was assigned to the 359th Infantry Regiment (IR), 90th Infantry Division (ID). The 90th Infantry Division landed in England on 4/5/1944, and trained from 10 April to 4 June.
The 359th IR first saw combat action on D-Day, 6/6/1944, on Utah Beach, Normandy, and elements of the regiment continued to land on the beach through 10 June. The 359th then began moving across the Merderet River to take Pont l'Abbe in heavy fighting. After defensive action along the river Douve, the division attacked to clear the Foret de Mont-Castre (AKA Hill 122), and was successful in clearing it on 11 July, in spite of fierce German resistance. An attack on the island of Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves failing, 23 July, the 90th bypassed it and took Périers on 7/27/1944.
On 8/12, the division drove across the Sarthe River, north and east of Le Mans, and took part in the closing of the Falaise Gap, by reaching 1st Polish Armored Division in Chambois om 8/19/1944. It then raced across France, through Verdun to participate in the siege of Metz, 9/14-11/19, capturing Maizières-lès-Metz on 10/30, and crossing the Moselle River at Koenigsmacker on 11/9. Elements of the 90th Infantry assaulted and captured the German-held Fort de Koenigsmacker 9–12 November. It was during this assault that Robert was killed in action.
Robert was temporarily buried in a US Army Cemetery. After the war, his body was moved to its present burial location at Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial,
Saint-Avold, Lorraine, France.
Sergeant Robert James Irby, Sn #38515967, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Combat Infantryman's Badge
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with two bronze battle/campaign stars and assault arrowhead device
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Meritorious Unit Citation
- Army Marksmanship Badge
- Army Qualification Badge with bars
- French Croix de Guerre Unit Citation
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Arkansas.
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