Robert M. Swanson
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Robert M. Swanson served in World War II. He served in the U.S. Army beginning on March 28, 1946.
Mr. Swanson was assigned to an anti-aircraft artillery unit out of Fort Bliss, Texas. He volunteered to be part of Task Force Frigid in the Alaska Territory and, in the heat of Texas, prepared for arctic service. He and others were sent to Fort Ord, California, and then by ship north to Whittier, Alaska Territory. They took the train to Ladd Field. They spent the winter of 1946 in Alaska and returned to California the next summer.
Mr. Swanson was discharged on September 29, 1947.
His rank was Technical Sergeant. His job was Radar Operator.
He was decorated with the World War II Victory Medal.
Mr. Swanson was born in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1927, the son of Arthur B. and Esther M. Swanson. He graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1945.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
“It all began after we volunteered for a hitch in the Arctic of Alaska, in a military group called Task Force Frigid. I was in an anti-aircraft artillery group stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. We began our training by sitting in tarpaper shacks watching movies on how to avoid frostbite while perspiring in 115˚F degree temperatures. Shortly thereafter, we were transferred to Fort Ord, California, where we joined other military groups, including paratroopers, armored batteries, engineers, and field artillery. “The thinking at that time was that the US of A might be involved in Arctic combat with Soviet forces and we needed to learn how well our troops could maneuver in frigid conditions and how well our equipment would perform. “We sailed out under the Golden Gate Bridge on a fully loaded troop transport, which unloaded us at Whittier on the Alaskan railroad, then north to Ladd Field at Fairbanks, where we were temporarily stationed in the fall of 1946. ‘We spent the following winter spending much of our time outdoors firing our artillery pieces at air targets. Our lowest recorded temperature that winter was -62˚F and was one of the coldest winters on record. “All of the troops involved were happy to sail back to the warmth of California the following summer.”
