HONORING OUR VETERANS: Merchant ship gunner honored 63 years later

By Christina Lent

The Beaverton Valley Times, Nov 12, 2009

Bill McRobert, a World War II veteran, will be presented with a Special Congressional Recognition for defending merchant ships with the Naval Armed Guard.

Jaime Valdez / The Beaverton Valley Times

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World War II veteran Bill McRobert will have his day in the spotlight Saturday.

The 84-year-old Beaverton man is one of about 50 veterans who will be honored during a Veterans Congressional Recognition Ceremony at the U.S. Navy Station Swan Island in Portland.

U.S. Rep. David Wu, a Hillsdale Democrat, will present the group of distinguished World War II and Vietnam War veterans with certificates of Special Congressional Recognition.

“I think it will be pretty interesting,” said McRobert, who served aboard the Liberty Ships S.S. Thomas M. Cooley and S.S. Frank J. Irwin as a member of the U.S. Navy Armed Guard between 1943 and 1946.

He plans to attend the ceremony with his wife of 60 years, Grace McRobert; their daughter Cathy; Alan, one of their three sons; and two of their grandchildren, Alex McRobert and Dustin Garrison.

“I think it will be fun to see everyone,” said Grace McRobert. “I’m really glad two of our grandsons will be able to come with us.”

Service recognition

The ceremony has been months in the making.

Last May, Wu set out to locate World War II and Vietnam veterans deserving of the recognition in Oregon’s 1st Congressional District.

During World War II, some members of the U.S. Navy Armed Guard defended merchant ships delivering much-needed supplies to the war effort. Although these soldiers served admirably and regularly saw combat, they have been largely unrecognized because they were not stationed on a military vessel, Wu said.

Legislation was passed in 1999 to give members of Congress the authority to recognize the contribution of these veterans.

Veterans who received the Vietnam Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, or the Vietnam Campaign Medal for service in the Vietnam War are also eligible for the certificate of Special Congressional Recognition.

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