Appomattox, VAMay 31, 2010
American Legion Post 104 Commander Harold Baker (far left) and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9855 Commander Robert Walker (far right)listen intently as WWII D-Day veteran Staff Sergeant Robert L. Sales, Retired (center) recounts his experiences being part of the Normandy Invasion to a patriotic crowd at Courthouse Square. Bob Sales was the keynote speaker at the Memorial Day commemoration. He is also a member of the 29th Division Association.
On December 20, 1940, although only 15 ½ years old, he hitchhiked from Madison Heights to Lynchburg and joined Company B, 116th Infantry, 29th Division of the Virginia National Guard. He commented, “They didn’t ask my age!” As America prepared for World War II, the National Guard was called into service in the U. S. Army on February 3, 1941. Sales, along with his unit, underwent many months of grueling training in preparation for the D-Day Invasion.
On the morning of June 6, 1944, Private Sales was the radio operator for his company commander. As their landing craft with 35 soldiers approached Omaha Beach on the Normandy coast, they encountered intense fire from the entrenched Germans. When the landing craft ramp dropped, Private Sales started toward the beach, but twisted his ankle and fell into the waters of the English Channel. As he struggled to avoid drowning, he watched in horror as Nazi machine guns raked his landing craft, killing every one on board! Shortly after reaching the beach, Private Sales was promoted to Staff Sergeant as every officer and non-com in his unit had been killed or wounded!
Sales’ battle had only just begun as he continued to fight inland for the next 181 days. On November 18, 1944, his unit came under galling fire from a German machine gun nest. Utilizing an American tank, Sales was able to destroy the machine gun nest and was standing in the turret of the tank when it was struck by an artillery shell. He was severely wounded by shrapnel, knocked to the ground and blinded. For the next one and a half years, Sales was in various hospitals until he regained partial sight and was discharged in March 1946 -- still only 20 years old!
In recognition of his courage and heroism, Staff Sergeant Sales is the recipient of numerous military awards including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, three Purple Hearts, the Combat Infantry Badge, a Presidential Citation and European Theater Award with three battle stars, among many others.
