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Sergeant Robert Edward Arnold

A black and white image of a young White man in uniform.
  • Unit: 6th Marine Division
  • Date of Birth: October 26, 1925
  • Entered the Military: July 20, 1942
  • Date of Death: May 21, 2010
  • Hometown: Sharonville, Ohio
  • Place of Death: Colorado City, Texas
  • Award(s): Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal
  • Cemetery: Section 2, Row F, Site 174. Texas State Veterans Cemetery, Abilene, Texas
Contributed by Cambry Crow, Daniela Cabrera, Camila Martinez, Leonela Marinez, Karsten McCormick, and Mia Rivera
Mentored by Mrs. Heather McCormick, Ms. Judy Garza, Mr. Kelly Moore
Snyder Junior High School, Snyder, Texas
2025/2026

Early Life

Robert Edward Arnold was born on October 26, 1925, in Camden, Ohio. His parents were Mary and William (Bill) Arnold. He grew up in Bellefontaine, Sycamore, and Sharonville, Ohio, alongside his twin sister, Jo Ann, and older brother Russell. Arnold’s father was a railroad conductor and World War I Coast Guard veteran. 

Arnold attended Sharonville High School for three years before enlisting in the military. While he was in school, he worked part-time at a local grocery store. He also played football and baseball. 

A handwritten birth record.
Robert Arnold’s birth certificate, October 26, 1925. Dignity Memorial.
A snippet of the 1940 Census.
The 1940 Census shows the Arnold family living in Sycamore, Ohio. His father, William, worked as a train conductor, and his mother, Mary, was a census taker. National Archives and Records Administration.

Homefront

During World War II, life on the home front in Sharonville, Ohio, was marked by significant changes and collective effort. Residents participated in rationing and supported the war effort through war bond drives and scrap collection campaigns, gathering materials like rubber and metal that were sent to be processed and used in military production. Factories in the area shifted production to manufacture goods and materials needed for the military, directly supplying essential resources such as munitions and vehicle parts. These changes created new job opportunities, especially for women, who stepped into roles traditionally held by men.

Sharonville’s proximity to the Fernald site added another layer to its wartime significance. The Fernald site, located nearby, was used for disposing of nuclear waste generated by the Manhattan Project, contributing to the secret effort to develop atomic weapons. Additionally, the U.S. Army stored milled materials in facilities near Sharonville, emphasizing the area’s role in supporting military logistics and resource management. Community members maintained strong support networks and participated in civic activities, all while their town played a quiet but crucial part in supplying and storing materials vital to the Allied victory.

A newspaper headline titled, "U.S. Army Depot May be at Sharonville."
The War Department constructed a $3,000,000 Army Engineer Depot at Sharonville during World War II. Wilmington News-Journal, May 27, 1942.
A newspaper article titled, "Lumber Supply of Army Cited."
Lumber was stored at the Army Engineer Depot. The Lima News, December 9, 1945.

Military Experience

Arnold enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on July 20, 1942, in Cincinnati, Ohio. At the time, he was only 16, so he claimed he was born in 1924. His parents also attested to his date of birth. 

He began his training at Parris Island, South Carolina, where he learned the foundational skills required of a Marine. After initial training, he was assigned to the Marine Corps Barracks (MB) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lakehurst, New Jersey. In July 1943, he underwent intense training with the 25th Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune before joining the V Amphibious Corps (VAC). 

Arnold served as a machine gun crewman (604), responsible for operating light machine guns, including the .30-caliber M1919A4. His daily tasks included providing mobile, sustained fire support to infantry units during combat operations—a dangerous, physically demanding job that put him on the front lines.

Arnold’s service took him across the Pacific as part of the U.S. “island hopping” campaign. He participated in the Battle of Saipan (June 15, 1944), helped stage and resupply in the Marshall Islands (October 4, 1944), and underwent intense training and preparation on Guadalcanal (October 10, 1944–March 14, 1945). He was then part of the initial invasion at Okinawa, landing at Hagushi Bay on April 1, 1945, and fighting through the brutal campaign until May 31, 1945. During this campaign, Arnold was wounded by a blast on May 30, 1945, suffering shrapnel injuries to his skull, head, and lower femur.

For his service and sacrifice, Arnold received several awards, including the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. He was discharged from the Marine Corps on April 18, 1946, at Farragut, Idaho, having served with distinction in some of the most significant battles of the Pacific theater.

A typed identification card with a photo of a young White man in uniform.
Arnold’s official Marine identification card shows the birthdate he used to join the Marines. Dignity Memorial.
A young White man in uniform standing outside a row of make-shift military tents.
Arnold at an unidentified military camp. Dignity Memorial.
A full-length, sepia image of two young White men in uniforms.
Arnold and a fellow Marine. Dignity Memorial.
A typed letter
The letter sent to Arnold’s mother notifying her of his wounded status after the Battle of Okinawa, June 15, 1945. Official Military Personnel Record, National Archives and Records Administration.
A typed declaration of the award. A black and white image of a young White man in a hospital bed shaking hands with another, older White man in uniform.
Arnold was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries in action against the enemy on Okinawa, July 11, 1945. Dignity Memorial.

Veteran Experience

Arnold was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps on April 18, 1946, at Farragut, Idaho. He transitioned to civilian life, settling in Virginia and focusing on recovery, education, and work.

He married his wife, Estella, in 1948. According to the 1950 Census, the Arnolds lived in Arlington, Virginia. Their first child, Carol, was newly born. Arnold’s sister, Jo Ann, was living with them. 

Arnold worked as a file clerk for the Veterans Administration in Arlington, Virginia, reflecting a transition to federal service and a commitment to supporting fellow veterans. He pursued higher education at Southeastern University in Washington, D.C., and eventually built a career in the home construction and mortgage industry.

A snippet of the 1950 Census.
The 1950 Census shows Robert Arnold with his wife and daughter in Arlington, Virginia. His sister Jo Ann also lived with them. National Archives and Records Administration.

Commemoration

Robert Edward Arnold passed away on May 21, 2010, in Colorado City, Texas. He is buried at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Abilene, Texas. He leaves behind a legacy of resilience, hard work, and dedication both in and out of uniform. Two of his grandsons followed in his footsteps and chose to serve in the United States military.

A color photo of a gray, arched headstone.
Sergeant Robert Arnold’s grave at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery, March 27, 2026. Courtesy of Heather McCormick.
A student from the Snyder Junior High School commemorates Arnold at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery, March 27, 2026. Courtesy of Heather McCormick.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

“Lumber Supply of Army Cited.” The Lima News [Lima, Ohio], December 9, 1945. Newspapers.com (679934311).

“Mr. Robert Arnold.” Dignity Memorial. Accessed November 1, 2026. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/colorado-city-tx/robert-arnold-4261591. 

Ohio. Logan County. 1930 U.S. Census. Digital Images. https://ancestryclassroom.com. 

Ohio. Hamilton County. 1940 U.S. Census. Digital Images. https://ancestryclassroom.com. 

Robert Edward Arnold, Official Military Personnel File, Department of the Navy, National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Robert Edward Arnold, Report of Separation, Department of the Navy, National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Robert Edward Arnold. U.S. Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941. Digital Images. https://ancestryclassroom.com. 

Robert Edward Arnold. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Digital Images. https://ancestryclassroom.com.  

“U.S. Army Depot May Be At Sharonville.” Wilmington News Journal [Wilmington, Ohio], May 27, 1942. Newspapers.com (877687009).

Virginia. Arlington County. 1950 U.S. Census. Digital Images. https://ancestryclassroom.com. 

Secondary Sources

“Environmental Defense.” United States General Services Administration. Last modified August 30, 1999. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://semspub.epa.gov/work/05/275518.pdf.

“Experiences with Discrimination (children).” World War II Oral Histories, Ohio History Connection. October 30, 2019. https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll4/id/42.

“Experiences with Discrimination (women).” World War II Oral Histories, Ohio History Connection. October 30, 2019. https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll4/id/50.

“Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) Per State, Ohio.” US Army Corps of Engineers. Last Modified September 30, 2015. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://www.usace.army.mil/Portals/2/docs/Environmental/FUDS/FUDS_Inventory/FUDS_Inventory_Ohio.pdf.

Kern, Jacqueline. “Where there’s a war, there’s a way: Women storm the workforce.” University of Cincinnati News [Cincinnati, Ohio], September 10, 2018. https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2018/09/where-theres-a-war-theres-a-way–women-storm-the-workforce.html.

“Reflections on Sacrifice in the 1940’s Era.” World War II Oral Histories, Ohio History Connection. October 30, 2019. https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll4/id/10.

“Robert Arnold.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, National Cemetery Administration. Accessed May 13, 2026. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/ROBERTARNOLD/30ACE0.

Robert Edward Arnold. Find A Grave. Accessed October 11, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52878630/robert-edward-arnold.

Stephens, Steve. “Voice heard ’round the world: Voice of America museum near Cincinnati a historical marvel.” Columbus Dispatch [Columbus, Ohio], December 20, 2021. https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2021/12/20/national-voice-america-museum-ohio-reveals-world-war-ii-history/8827911002/.

Swartsell, Nick. “The New Deal left local landmarks and a complicated, increasingly relevant legacy.” City Beat [Cincinnati, Ohio] November 21, 2017. https://www.citybeat.com/news/the-new-deal-left-local-landmarks-and-a-complicated-increasingly-relevant-legacy-12229250/.


This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.