Their Story
Robert “Bob” Dahlene Swenson was born Aug. 21, 1920, in Moline, Illinois, the son of John Oscar and Wilhelmina Dahlene Swenson.[1] Bob graduated from Moline High School on June 10, 1938.[2] He started an apprenticeship at the Farmall Works in Moline after high school.
He joined Battery B, 123rd Field Artillery, Illinois National Guard on March 5, 1941, at Moline. After basic training, Bob went to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and graduated from Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the field artillery.[3] He was then assigned to Ft. Knox, Kentucky.
Lt. Swenson was trained and assigned as a liaison pilot.[4] These pilots flew small, unarmed aircrafts.[5] He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 54th Field Artillery Battalion, 6th Infantry Division.[6]
During the campaign to recapture the Philippines, liaison pilots flew missions to spot targets for the artillery. Lt. Swenson was highly praised by his commanding officers for his bravery and the fact that he was in continuous combat for 219 days.[7] Lt. Swenson was awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and the Silver Star. The oak leaf was awarded for multiple awards of the same medal. Lt. Swenson was awarded the Air Medal five times.
After Bob returned from the war, he went back to work at Farmall Works and completed his apprenticeship as a tool and die designer. Bob married Betty J. Graham on June 5, 1948, in Rock Island. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rock Island. Bob worked for 30 years at Farmall, retiring due to ill health on March 27, 1969.
Robert Dahlene Swenson died on April 21, 1969, at Moline Lutheran Hospital following an extended illness.
[1] Robert Dahlene Swenson (1920-1969) – Find a Grave Memorial
[2] 11 Jun 1938, 3 – The Dispatch at Newspapers.com
[3] Commissioned – Newspapers.com
[4] 07 Nov 1944, 3 – The Dispatch at Newspapers.com
References
Bibliography
“Praise Lieut. Swenson .” 07 Nov 1944, 3 – The Dispatch at Newspapers.com. The Dispatch, November 7, 1944. Praise – Newspapers.com.
Find a Grave, database and images Robert Dahlene Swenson (1920-1969) – Find a Grave Memorial: accessed 14 October 2022), memorial page for Robert Dahlene Swenson (21 Aug 1920–21 Apr 1969), Find a Grave Memorial ID 2897076, citing Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by woowoo (contributor 49949980).
United States, Illinois, Rock Island, The Rock Island Argus, 1969 Apr 21, Page 5, Clipping from The Rock Island Argus – Newspapers.com (Accessed 10/14/2022)
Wikipedia contributors, “Liaison pilot,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Liaison pilot – Wikipedia (Accessed October 14, 2022).
United States, Illinois, Moline, The Dispatch, 1938 Jun 11, Page 3 11 Jun 1938, 3 – The Dispatch at Newspapers.com (Accessed 10/14/2022) (not in paper *)
United States, Illinois, Moline, The Dispatch, 1946 Jan 22, Page 2 Praise – Newspapers.com (Accessed 10/14/2022)
United States, Illinois, Moline, The Dispatch, 1945 May 02, Page 4 air medal – Newspapers.com (Accessed 10/14/2022)
United States, Illinois, Moline, The Dispatch, 1945 Oct 26, Page 15 From 26 Oct 1945, 15 – The Dispatch at Newspapers.com (Accessed 10/14/2022)
United States, Illinois, Moline, The Dispatch, 1942 Oct 27, Page 5 Commissioned – Newspapers.com (Accessed 10/14/2022)