Robert C De Long

Pfc Robert De Long was killed in action on 19 June 1944, serving with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment. On 19 June 1944, 2nd Battalion held its position while pushing out an unusually heavy schedule of patrol activity. Overnight, three patrols worked to reestablish contact with the neighboring 9th Infantry, while two more reconnaissance patrols probed the ground ahead. One patrol sent out at 0930 struck an enemy outpost line and was pinned down for some fifteen hours; a rifle platoon and a 60mm mortar section were dispatched to lay down covering fire and help extract them, though the patrol could not withdraw until noon. That fighting cost the patrol three killed and four wounded, but also saw Lt. Jamros' men destroy one machine-gun nest with hand grenades while the mortar section knocked out another. Pfc De Long was killed in action that day; the report does not specify the individual circumstances.