ROBERT S. REYNOLDS PAPERS

Robert Smith Reynolds was born in Bergen, New Jersey December 9, 1919, the son of Isaac M. and Lillian M. Reynolds. He completed a year of college and worked as a salesperson prior to enlisting in the Army April 6, 1942 at Newark, New Jersey. Upon completing basic training at Camp Roberts, California, where he was trained as an ammunition handler (military occupational specialty code 504), Reynolds volunteered for the ski troops. In August 1942, he arrived at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he was assigned to Company L of the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment.

In November 1942, Reynolds transferred to the 87th regimental headquarters company and participated in military maneuvers at the Hunter-Liggett Military Reservation, near Jolon, California. These maneuvers pitted two battalions of the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment against elements of the Philippine Army in order to develop tactics and field test equipment. Upon completion of these exercises, the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment moved to Camp Hale, Colorado.

On June 13, 1943 Reynolds received amphibious assault training at Fort Ord, California, in preparation for the 87th's invasion of Kiska Island in the Aleutians. Reynolds participated in attack on August 15, 1943 and remained on the island as part of the occupation force until the end of December.

Mountain and winter warfare training continued at Camp Hale until the end of June 1944, when the Division moved to Camp Swift, Texas for standard infantry training. While at Camp Swift, the Division was reorganized to officially become the 10th Mountain Division November 6, 1944. The 87th Infantry Regiment departed Camp Swift by train on the evening of December 21, 1944 and arrived at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia on Christmas Eve morning. Here they made final preparations for deployment to Italy, boarding the USS West Point on the evening of January 3, 1945. Reynolds arrived in Naples on January 13. During combat operations in Italy, Reynolds received the Bronze Star medal for his actions in the Apennines and Po River battles. The citation accompanying the award indicates that Reynolds was a member of the Intelligence and Reconnaissance (IR) Platoon of the 87th Headquarters Company.

Reynolds remained active with the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division serving as treasurer of the Northeast Chapter. He was also a member of the Hubert M. Smith American Legion Post # 77, and as a member of St. John In The Wilderness Episcopal Church, he was active in Church activities.

Reynolds died March 1, 2006 at Mission Hospital, Ashville, North Carolina and was interred at the Western Carolina State Veteran's Cemetery, Black Mountain, North Carolina.