260382 Capt. Fred J. Robison US Army 45th Infantry Division from:Wellington, Colorado My father, Fred J. Robison, joined the 45th Infantry which was at the time a National Guard unit from the Western USA and composed in large part from Native American tribes of the SW. With war looming it was activated. Originally their patch was an Anasazi symbol which looked too much like a swastika, so it was changed to a golden eagle on a red diamond. Following Pearl Harbor, they held a Regimental Assembly and asked if anyone knew how to type. A few men stepped forward. My father had never probably even touched a typewriter, but he was a good speller. He joined the group that volunteered. My father was smart enough to know manning a typewriter would be infinitely safer that carrying a rifle in an infantry unit. Shortly thereafter, he boarded the SS Cathay for England with some of the first US servicemen to arrive in England.
He initially was assigned to work at European Theatre of Operations then later Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces, where he served as a staff courier for General Eisenhower. He said Ike bummed a cigarette from him every day and always replaced it with a pack. He was BIGOT-Classified to carry documents regarding D-Day regularly, even delivering two to the British Prime Minister. He was present for the signing of the German surrender, standing close enough to kiss Gen. Jodl and Admiral ‘Donuts’, as he called him.
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