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Robert Givens
Robert's Military Unit-The Proud "Dog Face Soldiers"

Pictures Provided By Paula G. Baggarly.
A jrd Stat on 11/20/08.
Updated on 12/27/08.



The Proud "Dog Face Soldiers".
Robert is pictured, third row from bottom and third soldier from the right.
White arrow points to Robert.


William Robert Givens


ROBERT GIVENS

Robert Givens served with the 3rd infantry division (Dog Face Soldiers) under Sgt. William Heller. 1943 thru 1945. My dad was a "Foot Soldier" and first went to North Africa, then Sicily, Italy (Anzio), France, and then on to Germany and Austria. He also was at the Dachau liberation. The 3rd Infantry Division was in more battles than any other American Division in the war. In fact the battle at Anzio was some of the roughest fighting in the war. I have attached 2 photos, and can probably provide more with information on my dad, if you would like.

Photo # 1 This photo is of my dad walking past the "Death Train" at the Dachau liberation. Each rail car held the bodies of apx. 100 men, women and children.

Photo # 2 This was my dad's outfit.





There is an old saying that goes something like this-"There are no atheist in a fox hole in a war zone". I do not have first hand experience on this, but would think that it would be true. Robert, while in a fox hole, wrote the following poem.


Bob’s Bible

Last letter from camp come this morning
Our boy is now over the sea
On his way to join up with some forces
Who are fighting for you and for me

With his letter came a big package
Of things he had no longer need
But he wrote the one thing I am keeping
The Bible Mother sent me to read

I want you to know since you sent it
I’ve read a few chapters each night
Now I know that the things Mother taught me
Were the things Mother knew that were right

It has taught me the love of the Father
It has shown me the straight open road
It has taught me to be a good soldier
And helps me to carry my load

It will heal all our heartaches and sorrows
It will turn all our sorrows to joys
It will change all the souls of our loved ones
It will send safely home all our boys

So tell all of our friends and our neighbors
For the sake of our boys over there
When they pray to our God up in Heaven
Remember our boys in their prayers

Now I’ll end this by saying God bless you
But there’s one thing that I’d like to say
That the dust won’t collect on our Bibles
If we read just one verse everyday

Poem by: Cpl. William Robert Givens Written while in a fox hole in Italy


The pictures above. the poem, and the military information was written and/or provided by Robert's youngest daughter, Paula G. Baggarly. Thanks Paula for your input.





The "Army Third Infantry" uniform patch.
Dog Face Soldier Patch.

The term "Dog Face Soldier" gained a high profile in the USA when it was used in the 1955 Hollywood film, To Hell and Back, based on the best-selling autobiography of Audie Murphy, the most decorated U.S. soldier of World War II, and starring Murphy in the lead role. The film included a song, The Dogface Soldier, originally written in 1942 by two U.S. Army infantry soldiers; it was adopted as the song of the 3rd Infantry Division, and was widely played and sung during the war. The song eventually sold 300,000 copies. I have looked for the "Dog Face Soldier" song in a "Midi Format" without much luck. I did find the "WAV" format, but it is too long, almost 2 MB, to be used on a Web Page. I will continue to look and will update this page when I find the file.

I think that Robert Givens was the oldest of the Givens' family. This was a very large family and most of Robert's siblings settled in the Rockport/Echols area. After returning from the war, as a hero, Robert married Margie Mathis from McHenry. They decided to raise their family in Rockport. I think there was one son and three daughters. All of the children attended Rockport School, although they ended up graduating from Beaver Dam High School or Ohio County High School due to consolidation of the school systems.

Robert and Margie Givens were a quiet couple, and very friendly to everyone. They always greeted others and helped make Rockport a better community. Robert started to work for Cherry Hill mine, almost as soon as it opened, and moved to Peabody's River Queen Mine when Cherry Hill started closing down its' operation. He then transferred to Austin #3, where he retired. Robert became a mine foreman at Cherry Hill and continued to be a foreman after his transfers. His move to Austin #3 was to be able to work closer to his home.

Thanks Robert, for your service to our country and thanks for coming back home safely and opting to make your home in Rockport.

See you.....

jrd



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See you..........

jrd