Obituary of Robert E. "Bob" Eanes

Robert Earl “Bob” Eanes, 95, of Roanoke, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, August 31, 2015. Bob was born in Lodi, Va. December 14, 1919, a son of the late John C. & Eva Wright Eanes. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his loving wife Eve, and by a brother Roy. Bob retired after 50 years with Tidewater/Industrial Supply Company, as well as serving his country in the Army during WWII. He is survived by son, Johnny Eanes and wife Becky; daughter Maria Eanes McLaughlin and husband John; grandchildren, Bobby Eanes and Benjamin Eanes; beloved cat Chester. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Bob’s name to the Wounded Warriors Project or Angels of Assisi, 415 Campbell Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24016. The family will receive friends Thursday, September 3, 2015 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at Simpson Funeral Home. Services will be conducted Friday, September 4, 2015 at 2 p.m. at Simpson Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Tim Tate officiating. Entombment will follow in Old Dominion Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by Simpson Funeral Home. (540)366-0707. A Brief Military Biography Robert Earl “Bob” Eanes, was 24 years old when he was inducted into the U.S. Army for World War II. He was six feet tall and weighed 180 pounds. Prior to this Bob had been working as a draftsman in the defense industry helping to develop new aircraft for the war effort. He enlisted on August 22, 1944 and went through basic training and supply training deploying for Europe in January 1944. He arrived in Glasgow, Scotland on January 25, 1945 before being sent to mainland Europe arriving on January 30, 1945. He was assigned as a replacement to the veteran and much depleted 79th Infantry Division the Cross of Larraine Division. The 79th had suffered severe casualties since D-Day and was in Corps Reserve, holding defensive positions while trying to build its strength. During this time, the unit prepared for the crossing of the massive Rhine River which was expected to meet heavy resistance by Nazi forces. Hitler said no invaders would cross the Rhine River. The Americans thought otherwise. Bob and his colleagues trained intensively in river crossing tactics involving small motor boats that were designed to take ten to fifteen men across the river. Over 20,000 men were to cross in this fashion. By March 24 the Division was back in combat. Approximately 1,250 artillery pieces for various sizes began a bombardment of German positions. Bob and his colleagues could feel the ground shake for a solid hour as 300,000 artillery shells impacted the far shore. Before the bombardment was even finished, Bob and the others entered the small boats and started for the opposite shore. Much to the American surprise, the Germans offered little resistance. One German prisoner was asked if he thought the Americans could successfully cross the Rhine River. The Prisoners responded, “Why not? You Crossed the Atlantic.” Bob and his comrades drove inland threatening Germany’s Ruhr Valley military industry, engaged the enemy and took the Rhine-Herne Canal facilitating American advances to flank and surround large German forces in what became known as the Ruhr Pocket and trapped more than 430,000 German soldiers. Bob participated in the combat actions that secured the area which, by April 21st, effectively ended major organized resistance on the western front. Bob and is division then went on occupation duty and military governance first in the Ruhr area then they were moved to Czechoslovakia where they policed the legendary Sudetenland. They were then shifted to Bavaria where they trained for the invasion of Japan. With the Japanese surrender the 79th Division was slated to go home but Bob and others who had less than the required points, were transferred to other units in Germany. This was a troke of extreme luck for Bob as the move would impact the rest of his life. He was transferred to Company L, 26th Infantry Regiment of the First Infantry Division, also known as “The Big Red One” which was to perform Occupation duties. Bob was to serve as Security and as the Honor Guard at the famed Palace of Justice where the infamous Nazi leadership was placed on trial for crimes against humanity. He was an eyewitness to history. Among his duties was to check the identity cards of all persons going to and from the Palace of Justice to ensure no unauthorized persons entered the facility or posed a threat to the judges and court personnel. Among the many individuals he observed every day was a young polish woman who spoke multiple languages. She had been part of the Polish resistance, had survived Nazi captivity at a hard-labor camp in Czechoslovakia until liberated by American forces in May 1945. After finding her displaced sisters, she and another sister began working as translators at the war crimes trials to support her family. Her name was Eve Marie Eybe. Bob was impressed with the young woman’s beauty, bearing and character and orchestrated a formal introduction. They were married in November of 1947 and started for the U.S. the following month. Bob was discharged as a Staff Sergeant on January 6, 1948 with three years, four months and 12 days military service in World War II combat or occupation duties, almost all of it overseas. According to his discharge, he was still six feet but had gained seven pounds now weighing in at 187 pounds. Bob held the European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with two stars for participation in the Rhineland and Central European campaigns, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, the World War II Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit citation, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Wartime Service. He would later be briefly recalled for instructor duty during the Korean War. While proud of his service, Bob did not necessarily talk abbot it. His recollections of his military life focused on the friends he made, the places he saw and the circumstances that led him to Eybe, the love of his life and mother of his children John and Mimi. Bob was a part of what we now call “The Greatest Generation.” He was typical of that generation, returning home to turn their swords into plowshares to rebuild their lives, their families and their communities.