Dale Robertson

Dale Robertson is far better known for his fictitious television and movie exploits than for his real life combat role in World War II, which seems to suit Dale just fine. Like many other true heroes, he is reluctant to talk about the actions that earned him a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and France's Cross of Loraine.

Because he boxed professionally as a teenager, Robertson was unable to participate in high school sports and so went to the Oklahoma Military Academy at Claremone. There he earned 32 athletic awards and was named "All-Around Outstanding Athlete," receiving trophies in football, baseball, basketball, boxing, tennis, golf, swimming and polo.

When World War II broke out, Dale enlisted as a private in the Horse Cavalry at Fort Riley, Kansas. He then was sent to Officer Candidate School, commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 332nd Combat Engineers, attached to Patton's Third Army. Robertson once spent nine months in the hospital when his knee was shattered by German mortar.

Today, when the United States is involved in the war on terrorism, a war that may be even more dangerous than World War II, Dale Robertson represents the spirit and valor of America's fighting men and women who for generations have believed in and fought for this nation's unwavering defense of freedom for all people.