Tina Smith: “today I rise to honor a WWII veteran who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in his service to the United States…”

“today I rise to honor a WWII veteran who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in his service to the United States and to the State of Oregon. Bob Maxwell was born in Boise, ID on October 26, 1920. Before joining the U.S. Army, Bob worked as a logger in Colorado. In the summer of 1942, he was shipped to Camp Roberts, CA for training. Bob boarded a British troop ship heading for the European theater and landed in Casablanca in February of 1943. There he was assigned to the battered 3rd Infantry Division. Together with the 3rd Rangers, his Division landed in Licata on the south-central coast of Sicily in July of 1943. Fighting their way inland, Bob Maxwell's division successfully captured the city of Agrigento after seven intense days of battle. Bob's dedication to the war effort was a valiant one. After landing near the town of Netuno, Italy on January 22, 1944, he was struck by shrapnel from a German artillery shell, severely injuring his leg. Maxwell returned to his duty repairing phone wires and working the switchboard after bandaging his leg. He did not go to the hospital until the next morning when his platoon leader forced him to go. He was later awarded the Silver Star for his efforts.”