Robert F. "Bob" Kennedy
The following article was found in the March 4, 1943, Lowell Tribune on page 2, columns 1-2:
Preparing for Combat Engineering Day
Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. -- Pvt. Robert F. Kennedy, Lowell, who recently entered military service, has arrived at the Engineer replacement training center here for an intensive training program in preparation for combat engineer duty. Training will include basic subjects like close and extended order drill, manual of arms, rifle marksmanship and combat principles as well as the functions of military engineering -- use of tools and equipment, building of fixed and floating bridges, demolitions and construction of roads and obstacles. Soldiers go from here to tactical units or to special training or officer candidate schools.The following article was found in the April 29, 1943, Lowell Tribune on page 2, column 3:
- The following soldiers spent the week-end at home visiting relatives and friends:
- Pvt. John Drinski, from Camp Livingston, La.
Pvt. Robert Kennedy, Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.
Sgt. Herbert Hadders, from Los Angeles, Calif.
This May 4, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
- Recent letters received by the Charles Haberlins from their son, Pvt. Donald Haberlin, stationed with the medical corps in Italy, reveals that he and his brother-in-law Pvt. Robert Kennedy, in the engineer corps, met a short time ago "somewhere in that country." This accidental meeting resulted in both boys getting a day off to talk over home-town and family news.
This Lowell Tribune article was found in the February 1, 1945, issue (page 2, columns 1-2):
Pvt. Robert Kennedy in Military Railway Service
- Sixth Army Group, France -- When one thinks of the Military Rail Service and its many accomplishments on foreign soil, one thinks usually of an engineer guiding a trainload of war material toward the front, or construction experts building a bridge across a river, or dispatchers, telegraphers, brakemen or trainmasters at work.
- Lost in the shuffle, usually, are small but very important units of the military railway service, the base depot companies, which handle the bulk of all the railway equipment used.
- Base depot companies which supply all the railway operating battalions of the 1st Military Railway Service in France are commanded by Capt. Ellis H. Butler, Houston, Tex., and Capt. Herbert T. Phillips, Chicago. Thousands of tons of bridging trestling, rails, ties and other items are received by these depot units from ships arriving in the great southern ports.
- Crane operators, yard clerks, ware housemen are all included in the personnel of these companies. Many of them joined a base depot company when the first one was organized in North Africa in November, 1943. That company was formed when it was found that the stores sections of established military railway service units were inadequate to handle the tremendous supplies of rail equipment arriving at Oran and Algiers. The new company was charged with receiving, storing, classifying and issuing all railway stock.
- In a typical month, the company received 1,180 tons of railroad equipment and shipped 1,574 tons. Part of that first company moved to Rome in July, 1944, and the unit was reassembled in South France.
- Included in the members of these base depot companies is Pvt. Robert F. Kennecy, son of the John Kennedys, Lowell.
This November 29, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
- Pvt. Robert Kennedy arrived home last Thursday, after being discharged from the service. Bob has just recently returned from 30 months overseas service.
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