SGT ROBERT G BANKS

Rockford Paratrooper
Missing in Action
   A 23-year-old Rockford paratrooper, Sgt. Robert G. Banks, Is missing in action since June 6 when he participated in the air-borne phase of the invasion of France, according to notification received yesterday by his mother, Mrs. Helen Banks! 433 Horace avenue, from the war department.
   Sergeant Banks has been unheard from since he landed with the parachute infantry during the early morning hours of D-day to seize bridges and highway junctions on the Normandy peninsula to facilitate the operations of the sea-borne invasion forces.
   The paratrooper is the second of three brothers who entered the service to become a casualty. An older brother, Aviation Cadet William E. Banks, was killed last Oct. 21 when his P-40 Curtiss Warbawk fighter crashed seven miles south of Goliad, Tex., while on a flight from Aloe army air field at Victoria, Tex.
   A former student at Rockford high school, Sergeant Banks was employed at George D. Roper corporation prior to enlistment in the army Oct. 29, 1942. Volunteering for the parachute infantry, he qualified for the paratrooper's wings March 7, 1943, and then engaged in air-borne maneuvers in Tennessee before embarking for overseas duty the following Dec. 18 [sic].
   The Rockford soldier was stationed in northern Ireland and England before taking part in the invasion.
   Third member of the family in service is Pfc. Burton Banks, who recently completed “boot” training in the marine corps at San Diego,
Besides his mother, Sergeant Banks has a sister, Lucille, and two ‘younger brothers, Eugene and Brace, living here. Their father, Harry banks, died eight years ago.

[Rockford Register - Republic
Wednesday, July 26, 1944 - Page 11]

For a young man who has been in a German prison camp for many months, there really is no place like home.  And Sgt Robert Banks, paratrooper, who was captured by the nazis almost as soon as he landed in Normandy, is not only glad to be home, he's glad just to be alive.