From the Blue Ridges to the Sandhills: The History of 4 North Carolina Families



Robert Lee Briggs, 1917-1944

Sergeant Robert Lee Briggs

William Fitshue Briggs was born in 1879 in North Carolina. He married Mary Catherine Bowling, who was born in 1891 in North Carolina. In the 1920's, they moved from Chatham County to Moore County with their large family, which totalled thirteen children at the time of Mary's death in 1934. Will Briggs died in 1937.

Their son Robert Lee was born in 1917. He enlisted in the U.S. Army March 22, 1941, and was assigned to the 38th Engineer Regiment. About a year later, he married Hazel Evelyn Oakley, just before going overseas to serve his country in World War II.



Robert kept a list, written in ink inside a leather wallet, of the many places he went during his service. Many are mentioned in the regimental history, published in a Memorial Day program in honor of Robert L. Briggs, Roy E. Yeargin, Ed. McDonald, Thomas J. Aversa, Robert J. Bishop, Bernard G. Koch, and Jack Chinnici, on May 30, 1945 in France, by the 38th Engineer General Service Regiment.


Briggs Road, Normandy, 1942 For the D-Day invasion of Normandy, Robert's regiment became part of the 1st Engineer Special Brigade, which landed on Utah Beach on June 6, 1944. He was killed by a ground bomb on June 13. For his sacrifice, his family received the Purple Heart award from the President of the United States.

Robert's burial place is in the American Cemetery, St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France. A monument to the men from his unit who died in Normandy stands at Utah Beach, and a road in Normandy, pictured at right, was named in his honor.



Robert Briggs' grave at Colleville sur Mer.



Les Fleurs de la Mémoire, The Memory Flowers Association, in France places flowers on American soldier's graves. A French family places flowers on the graves of Robert and two other members of the 38th who are buried at Colleville sur Mer. They were kind enough to share these photographs with us.











Click here for an album of photographs taken by Robert Briggs in Africa during World War II.

Regimental History



LINKS

38th Engineer Combat Regiment visit to Ascension Island in 1995,  photos of a visit by veterans and the unveiling of a plaque honoring their work on Ascension Island, UK in 1942.

Utah Beach on Wikipedia

HOME Johnson Oakley White Willey Index of
Names 		Site
Map

From the Blue Ridges to the Sandhills: The History of 4 NC Families/Sergeant Robert Lee Briggs
© 2001 by Glenda Alexander, updated January 2007        Standard copyright restrictions apply.