Robert L. Strayer

Robert L. Strayer
Robert L. Strayer as a Major during World War II
Born	(1910-03-02)March 2, 1910 Rutledge, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	December 18, 2002(2002-12-18) (aged 92) St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1930–1945
Rank	Colonel
Unit	2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Normandy Operation Market Garden Battle of the Bulge Western Allied invasion of Germany
Awards	Silver Star Bronze Star (4) Purple Heart
Relations	Mildred (wife) Robert Oliver (son) Suzanne Mildred (daughter)

Colonel Robert Lytle Strayer (March 2, 1910 – December 18, 2002)^[1] was a United States Army officer during World War II. As a Major, in 1942 he was given command of the 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. In 1945 he was made Executive Officer (XO) of the 506th PIR, and his position as 2nd Battalion CO was filled by Major Richard D. Winters. During his service he earned four Bronze Stars, one Silver Star and one Purple Heart. At the end of World War II Colonel Strayer was promoted to Colonel and appointed Commander of the 507th PIR. Lieutenant Colonel Charles Chase replaced him as Executive Officer of 506th PIR and subsequently replaced Colonel Robert Sink as the Commander of the 506th PIR once Colonel Sink was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed to the staff at West Point. When the 506th was de-activated in September 1945, Colonel Strayer left the Army.

Strayer married Mildred Strong of Chuckey, Tennessee, an Army nurse, on January 12, 1942.^[1] He retired from the army after the end of World War II. Strayer and his wife settled down in Pennsylvania where Strayer found work as an insurance salesman.^[2] In 1978 the couple retired to St. Petersburg, Florida, where Strayer died December 18, 2002. His wife died on July 5, 2009. They are both interred at Arlington National Cemetery.^[3]

Strayer was portrayed in the television miniseries Band of Brothers by actor Phil McKee.

Medals and decorations

	Combat Infantryman Badge
	Parachutist Badge with 2 combat stars

	Silver Star
	Bronze Star with three oak leaf clusters
	Purple Heart
	Presidential Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster
	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
	World War II Victory Medal

References