Abbreviated biography of Robert Fulton:

Robert P. Fulton, Jr. was born in 1923 in Philadelphia, PA. His father was an immigrant from what is now Northern Ireland. His mother’ surname was Mott. The family, including his sister, moved to Merchantville, N.J. He attended Merchantville High School through grade 11, and was interested in football and track.

He joined the Army in February, 1943. He said that every military age male was either in the Service, getting out of the service, or going in. His military occupation was automotive, truck and tractor Mechanic. I know he spent many months in England and in various training schools. He was assigned a industrial wrecker to tow disabled tanks and trucks from the front lines to where they could be fixed. In June 1944, he participated in D-Day. He wasn’t sure of the exact date he landed on a beach driving the tow truck. He got it stuck in the surf and they had to call for a tank to tow him on to land.

He recalls being in France, Belgium, Austria and eventually Germany. Being a corporal, he wasn’t given a lot of information. In December 1944 he was with a group of other Army soldiers who were designated to fill openings in other squads as people were casualties. They were doing bayonet practice and the officers ordered them to take off the scabbards to make the training more realistic. He felt something was eminent and he was right, Battle of the Bulge. For whatever reason plus the intense cold, he contracted pneumonia, missing the first few days of the battle. The US Army had taken over a local mental health facility to make a hospital. As he arrived, one of the former mental patients stood up on a large pile of cow manure and gave the Nazi salute to the arriving Americans.

After that battle the Allies advanced eventually to Germany. In April 1945 he was in Stuttgart and has photos of Nazi SS troops being taken to a POW camp. His group lived in building labeled as “Germany School for Soldiers”. After the surrender he was stationed in Hochst. They converted a rubber plant into a vehicle repair shop, July & August 1945. He obtained a handgun locally and carried it because “groups of rogue German soldiers were still killing G.I.’s” (I have that handgun in my safe along with his bayonet and rifle site).

He chose not to stay in Europe for the reconstruction, and was allowed to return to England and eventually USA. He has a photo (developed March 1946) of the Statue of Liberty taken from his ship upon return. His awards include Good Conduct, American Campaign, European …Campaign w/bronze service star, WW2 Victory medal, Honorable Service button, Marksman with rifle bar, Driver M & W. He separated from service March 12, 1946.

Robert Fulton was married twice and had 2 sons. He lived in Pennsylvania & Florida, dying in 2019.

Sources: military records, personal interview, notes on backs of photos, and postcards he sent to his parents.

Craig F.- April, 2020