Obit: Dignin, Robert J. #2 (1922 - 1945)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Dignin, Hardwick, Blum

----Source: Humbird Enterprise (Humbird, Clark Co., Wis.) 07/21/1945

Dignin, Robert J. #2 (10 MAR 1922 - MAY 1945)

Memorial services for Machinist Mate First Class Robert Jerome Dignin were held at St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church at 2:30 last Sunday afternoon.  The order of worship included: the prelude, invocation, Gloria Patria, hymn "America, the Beautiful" by the congregation, scripture reading, girls’ choir "Sometime We’ll Understand," the obituary, citation for heroism given when he helped rescue persons from the USS Wasp, reading of letter the Chaplain sent to his parents, followed by a poem and prayer, song by the girls’ choir "Saved by Grace."

The pastor of the church, N.J. Dechant, based his message on the scripture reading, the Ten Commandments and the 23^rd Psalm," If Man Must Kill," citing the terribleness of war and the hopes for peace.  The service closed with a song by the girls’ choir "Under His Wings," hymn by the congregation "Onward Christian Soldiers," and benediction, there were many friends, relatives, the Legion and Auxiliary, one of which was an anchor with the name "Bob" in the center and his picture below.

Nordahl S. Fristad presented the flag to Mrs. Erma Dignin, on behalf of the Legion, the Auxiliary, the U.S. Gov’t, and the U.S. Navy.  Taps were sounded by Gordon Hahn.

On an island in the vast Pacific, rests Robert Jerome Dignin MM 1-C.  He began his life in Humbird (Clark, Co.), Wis., on March 10, 1922, and with the exception of a short interval lived on a farm near Neillsville, he spent the most of twelve years trudging to and from the red brick schoolhouse, wherein he began preparations for life.

In May 1940 he stood on the graduation platform, immediately after which he enlisted in the navy.  He received his boot training at Great Lakes and then went to trade school at Ft. Dearborn, Mich.  He was soon afloat on the Altair on the Pacific, and dropped anchor at Hawaii, the Canal Zone, and Bermuda.  Later he transferred to a destroyer - the Duncan, which was destined to sink in a battle with the Japanese in October 1942.  After a rest leave he sailed again, to put into ports of Africa, Sicily, Italy, and participated in the invasion of France.

On Sept. 28, 1944, he stood at the altar of St. John’s Church, as the former Erma Hardwick came up the aisle to join him in voicing the vows of matrimony.  Then Anchors A-Weigh as the course of duty once more took him to the Pacific, where on a  day in late May, the ship was attacked by Japanese planes.  Thus ended a youthful life of 23 years and approximately 3 months, willingly sacrificed for preservation of our American homes.

He leaves to mourn, his wife, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Dignin, and three brothers, William quartermaster 3-C, somewhere in the Pacific, Lynn, coxwain, at Pearl Harbor, both of the navy, and Dale, at home; two sister, Mrs. Gilman Blum, Fairchild, and Betty at home, and other relatives and many friends.  One brother, Daryl Duane, preceded him in death.