Marquette University NROTC - Porthole Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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You were there on the 9th day of January, 1945, when Lingayen Gulf's White Beach Two was hell. You were the skipper of LCT 1035, when nearing the beach, she was hit by heavy mortar fire. You were fatally wounded and soon afterwards, you died aboard LS : 470. You had been well prepared for this moment of sacrifice. You had entered the NROTC at Marquette in 1942, had graduated in March, 1944, and then HBob was equal to anything that he had to face, and when given an order, he never hesi- tated an instant in its prompt and cheerful execution. W e who knew Bob are de- termined to do something perm sonally to avenge him. My only hope is that 1 can prove myself half the man that he was if 1 ever have to face the wounds that he faced. -Lt. Ken Black, Ir. CO LCT Group 65 Flotilla 22 The poppies neither blow nor grow on Luzon - There are only the rows 1 4 of 1 s x s . . .1.--....--.n- had proceeded to amphib training at Solomons, Md. 1n the next six months, your crew and your ship became your own being. They ceased as such only after the fatal encounter with White Beach Two and you no longer lived. But . . . Bob Blanz . . . even in death, your spirit lives, and shall liveeeven long after a cross no longer marks your grave. Yes, Bob . . . Your spirit truly lives! CFOSSGS -- HYou always say that one LCT won't win the war. Well, you're right! But one LCT will help a lot to win the war. If every ship does its best job, the war will be over sooner. So, for us, the job that we are to do is the most important thing, more important than in- dividuals. We take care of our crew and ourselves. And we can, because we've had such wonderful training. -Bob Blanz New Guinea 1944

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