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name
GOULDIN, Robert Alfred - Date of
birth
29 June 1911 -
Age
33 - Place of
birth
Bagby, Caroline County, Virginia -
Hometown
Gate City, Scott County, Virginia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-304295 -
Rank
Major -
Function
unknown -
Unit
355th Engineer General Service Regiment
-
Awards
Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
3 April 1945 - Place of
death
Wesel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 15 | 30 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Robert Buckner Gouldin (father)
Pattie J. (Broaddus) Gouldin (mother)
Alfred B. Gouldin (brother)
Robert B. Gouldin (brother)
Richard W. Gouldin (brother)
Daisy C. (Taliaferro) Gouldin (wife)
More information
Robert Gouldin graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Insitute with a degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1933. Prior to enlisting, he worked for the Appalachian Power Company.He was awarded the Legion of Merit a first time on 12 November 1943 for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service from 24 August 1942 to 27 February 1943 in the construction of two hundred miles of road north of 60th parallel of latitude.
The greatest accomplishement of the 371st ECB was the contruction of the Wesel Rail Bridge over the Rhine in the record time of ten days. The bridge was dedicated to Major Gouldin and two enlisted men who died in a boat accident while building it. They were going out on the river at night and it was believed they hit an anchor cable and the boat flipped over. The bridge was opened on 9 April 1945, the day his mother died.
Maj Gouldin drowned.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, WWIIMemorial, Fold3 WWII European Theater Army Records, Ancestry, Perry Family Tree / Kingsport News 12 November 1943
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Des Philippet, US School Yearbook, Richard W. Gouldin Jr. (nephew)