In Bob's Own Words
Here is an opportunity to read Bob's recollection of the events he partook in during the war:
Stories of the Greatest Generation
February 1943, I was in my Senior Class ready to Graduate in June and a notice came to the School in Binghamton New York ( My Home Town ). Any one in the Senior Class that was 18 years old and volunteered for the Draft could leave their Senior Class , and would not be required too take their Regents exams. Right away I went to my Induction Center and applied for the Navy Air Corps to go to Flight School.
The Beginning
The Beginning
February 1943, I was in my Senior Class ready to Graduate in June and a notice came to the School in Binghamton New York ( My Home Town ). Any one in the Senior Class that was 18 years old and volunteered for the Draft could leave their Senior Class , and would not be required too take their Regents exams. Right away I went to my Induction Center and applied for the Navy Air Corps to go to Flight School.
Bazooka Antics
This is a story is partly copied from Vanguard of the Crusade By Mark Bando - per a letter sent by Bob Lott
One of the first concerted German efforts to break into Bastogne from the west fell against the lines of the
101st Airborne , Robert D. Lott of C /401st described his role in repulsing this powerful enemy thrust.
Some time in the morning of the 26th Captain Towns had the “C” Company fall out in line looking toward at the very large Hill toward Champs . We were lined up in a single line spaced apart by a few feet and given the order to head forward up to the top of the hill. We started ahead only 500 feet before the dense forest. We were advancing were under rifle fire from the Germans dug inside of that hill.
Friendly
Fire
Send Me Back!
While in the Hospital in England, on the morning check with the Staff Doctor a U.S. Major advised me that I was going to be shipped back to the States to recover from my wound. I said to the Major, “I don’t want to go home until my face gets back to normal. I would like to go back to my outfit, the 101st Airborne!” The Major's eyed widened, before shouting, “I WILL BE A SON OF A BITCH!"
The Eagle's Nest
Near the end of World War II, the 101st Airborne was ordered to move into the Berchtesgaden, Germany area. Our company C-327/401 was assigned to move into Obersalszburg, Germany just above Berchtesgaden on the mountain. This meant that we were to move into the Platterhof Hotel for our living quarters. Which was situated a 100 yards up behind Hitler's Retreat. The Retreat was high up the mountain in Obersalzburg.
"What the Hell do you want?!"
What happened is, they pulled up in NJ when I got off the ship. And we had to wait for the train. They told us we couldn’t go out until the troop that was in there finished up their dinner. So I was a cocky enough guy that I was going to see what the situation was up there.