As he recalled the faces of friends he saw killed in combat, tears traced the wrinkles of World War II infantryman Robert Mims” sun-dried cheeks.
“Before we got into combat, we never could have thought what it would be like,” said Mims, now a 93-year-old Lowndes County resident. “But we went to work. We matured together.”
After seeing the horror of war, medals lost their luster for Mims. Even though he knew he had some medals coming to him, Mims never thought about them after he was wounded two separate times in 1944 and was sent home with a Purple Heart, which his children later lost.
When his daughter-in-law, Sandra Mims, sent for a replacement in February, they were informed that he”d also earned the distinguished Bronze Star, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Honorable Service lapel button and three campaign battle stars for fighting in Normandy, Northern France and the Rhineland.
Sandra Mims” husband, Paul Mims, said it meant more to the family than to his father, who doesn”t even want to hold the medals.
“He told me his biggest achievement, his biggest award, was making it back to his family,” Paul Mims said.
Robert Mims, born in Black Hawk, was drafted Nov. 5, 1943, while he was working at a local clothing company and farming. He was assigned to the 29th Infantry Division and trained as a sharpshooter and machine-gunner.
In June 1944 he was sent from England to Normandy beach as a replacement for the casualties of D-Day, some of whom were still lying dead on the beach, he said.
“I didn”t mind going,” he said of his deployment, “but I wasn”t laughing about it either. I was doing what I could to get it over as soon as possible.”
He was wounded the first time in the right thigh in France on Aug. 7, 1944, and was sent back to England for treatment. Back on the front, he was wounded again Nov. 16, 1944, in his left forearm.
“I can hardly believe I”m still walking around, still enjoying life,” he said. “Tears come to me because I”m just so happy. I”m just happy I went through all that and still came out alive.”
After he returned home, Mims returned to his previous jobs and tried to forget some of what he”d seen.
“You don”t try to think about it,” he added. “You do sometimes, but you try not to.”
Paul Mims said what impressed him about his father and the rest of his generation was that they came home after enduring all they did and went to work building families and the country we have today.
“Like the man said,” he added, “they were the greatest generation.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
READER FAVORITES
Related Photos
Robert Mims, a local Word War II veteran, just received several medals he didn’t know he’d earned, including, from left, the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry badge, as well as his Purple Heart. Photo by: Ryan Poe
