Robert Donald Milne
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Mr. Milne served during World War II in the European Theater.
He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve in Duluth, Minnesota joining in 1940 at the age of 18. On October 29, 1940, the reserves were called up for active duty. Mr. Milne served aboard the gunboat U.S.S. Paducah for about two-and-a-half years, training armed guard gun crews for merchant ships out of Norfolk, Virginia.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Milne was transferred for advanced training to a training and repair base in Arzew, French Algeria, where he worked in support of the Allied invasions of southern France and then of Sicily and Salerno in Italy. He and his unit stood inspection for Charles DeGaulle. He returned to Duluth, Minnesota for a 30-day leave, then was assigned to Little Creek, Virginia, and subsequently Newport, Rhode Island.
Mr. Milne left the service in 1945 with the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
Source: Veteran's recollections (see below) and “Legion Limelight,” From the Brooklyn Center American Legion Post #630 Newsletter, February 2008 (see article, below)
Recollections:
Robert Donald Milne entered the Naval Reserve and with no basic training went aboard USS Paducah for training by crew from November 3, 1940 to March, 1943. He was a boatswain's mate second class prior being transfered to Arzew, French Algeria for advance training. "Stayed for 27 months before base turned over to French (Charles DeGaulle conducted transfer and we stood inspection for him). From Arzen back to States for 30 day leave in Duluth, then to Little Creek, Va. supervising supply crews loading provisions Requested transfer and was assigned to LSD to be shipped out from Newport, R.I. when war ended. I was discharged with rating of Chief Boatswain's Mate."
Article:
Bob joined the Naval Reserves in Duluth at age 18 after graduating from high school in 1940. The Reserves were called up for one-year active duty on October 29, 1940, and because of WWII, it was five years before he returned to Duluth. Bob started as an apprentice seaman at $21 per month. There was no boot camp—he got right aboard ship, went through the Great Lakes and Gulf of St. Lawrence in November 1940, and arrived at Brooklyn Navy Yard on the East Coast. He was assigned first to mess cook, then to captain of the head, and subsequently to the deck force. He served on the USS Paducah (a gunboat) for about 2 ½ years, assigned to training armed guard gun crews for merchant ships out of Norfolk, Virginia. Then was transferred to French Algeria in North Africa for 27 months to a training and repair base, which supported the invasions of Southern France and of Sicily and Salerno in Italy. Bob left the service in 1945 as Chief Petty Officer ($150 a month!). He took advantage of the GI Bill to graduate from Business College and the U of M. He worked for a consulting engineering firm before going into business for himself as auditor, consultant and financial advisor to city governments in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Three of his five children followed him into the Navy. Bob is often seen writing letters and poems to family and friends (including his Legion family) and singing karaoke around town.
