Robert Grame was born on December 14, 1917, in San Diego, California. When Robert was one year old, his family moved to Camp Creek, Atchinson, Kansas. His father William ( born 1884 ) and mother Dilla ( born 1888) had there own farm. The couple had 9 children ( Robert was in the middle), and their grandma Jessie ( William’s mother). Grandma Jessie came from Scotland. They were Protestant.
Robert returned to San Diego in 1938, after one year of Atchinson high school, to work in a Safeway store.
On December 9, 1942, Robert got his call to join the army. His basic training was in Camp Howze, Texas, then to Camp Clairborne in Los Angeles. Because of his qualities Robert Grame became a Sergeant very quickly.
The new Sergeant served with the 333rd Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division. He served in the 3rd Battalion, Item-company. Light Infantry, he became a Railsplitter. Their motto was: STRIKE HARD. This Infantry Division was activated on October 15, 1942. Under the command of Major- General John Hildring.



This Division was also called: “Lincoln County”, in memory of a young Captain Abraham Lincoln, during The Black Hawk War in 1832. That is where the Railplitters got there shoulder patch from. This Division also fought in WWI.

On October 12, 1944, the 84th Division went to England, landing on Omaha- Beach between November 1-4. They were immediately sent to Holland, passing Gulpen, and attached to the 3rd British Army.
On November 18, the 333rd Infantry saw action for the first time, they attacked Geilenkirchen, in Germany. The Siegfried-line. It was called Operation Clipper, and was part of the huge operation in the Ruhr area.
After the conquest on Geilenkirchen, they marched toward the Wurm-Valley and Muellendorf, the road was full with mines so they had to go through the muddy fields beside the road. This became very difficult cause it wouldn’t stop raining. The 333rd became sitting ducks for the Germans.

As the 84th stood against the 15th Panzer Grenadier Division, tanks where brought in. Together they fought very hard, until November 23, then the 84th went into the defence. During this Operation, the Division had lost 2000 men, 752 were missing and 169 were killed.

Sergeant Robert E. Grame fall in battle on November 23, 1944, Thanksgiving day. On December 14 he would became 27 years old. He received a Purple Heart.

The Railsplitter Division returned to the United States January 21, and went into reserve.






I want to thank the following persons, who helped me with the research:
Mrs. Fietje Quadvlieg
Claudia Bosshammer and Jan Hill, Librarians from San Diego, California,
Barb at Serra Research Center,
And everyone who maybe I forgot to mention...

Purple heart - Rusty knights place