2018 Parade Marshal
Robert Stanton and his grandson Lt Colonel Peter Larrabee
In March 1945, Bob Stanton was an infantryman with an M-1 rifle, riding through Germany on a half-track — a military vehicle with tank treads in the rear and wheels in front.
As the Army's 12th Armored Division approached the Rhine river, they engaged the enemy.
"An antitank shell hit the front of the half-track. Four of us survived out of 12 guys," he recalled. "The sergeant got cut in half. I had a big hole in my leg."
He has two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and a souvenir: "I got a piece of German shrapnel right here," he said, squeezing his left ear. "You can still feel it."
Today, Stanton is a retired chemical engineer in Pilesgrove NJ. with 18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Adding to that, he also had shrapnel in his groin and once back in the US was advised by doctors to roller skate to try and work it out. He met his wife at the rink!
He went on to earn a degree in Chemical Engineering at Drexel and worked at DuPont till retirement.
He moved his young family to a 40 acre farm in Pilesgrove in 1963 and besides full time employment at DuPont, raised beef, pigs and hay.
Mr. Stanton train hobby turned into the Riverview and Woodside Railroad in his back yard, starting with the restoration of Riverview Park train (from Pennsville) and adding other engines including a steam engine from Belgium. At 80 years of age, he finished over a mile of track on his 40 acres and had a golden spike ceremony.
He was a prominent figure at St Luke's Church in Woodstown and held many positions within.
He recently celebrated his 95 1/2 birthday, still lives on his own in Pilesgrove, with family surrounding him. Mr. Stanton just finished researching and writing a book on The Salem Railroad, and is on his computer every day communicating with friends around the world.
Thank you for your service Mr. Stanton. The Parade Committee is honored that you will be our 2018 Parade Marshal.
As the Army's 12th Armored Division approached the Rhine river, they engaged the enemy.
"An antitank shell hit the front of the half-track. Four of us survived out of 12 guys," he recalled. "The sergeant got cut in half. I had a big hole in my leg."
He has two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and a souvenir: "I got a piece of German shrapnel right here," he said, squeezing his left ear. "You can still feel it."
Today, Stanton is a retired chemical engineer in Pilesgrove NJ. with 18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Adding to that, he also had shrapnel in his groin and once back in the US was advised by doctors to roller skate to try and work it out. He met his wife at the rink!
He went on to earn a degree in Chemical Engineering at Drexel and worked at DuPont till retirement.
He moved his young family to a 40 acre farm in Pilesgrove in 1963 and besides full time employment at DuPont, raised beef, pigs and hay.
Mr. Stanton train hobby turned into the Riverview and Woodside Railroad in his back yard, starting with the restoration of Riverview Park train (from Pennsville) and adding other engines including a steam engine from Belgium. At 80 years of age, he finished over a mile of track on his 40 acres and had a golden spike ceremony.
He was a prominent figure at St Luke's Church in Woodstown and held many positions within.
He recently celebrated his 95 1/2 birthday, still lives on his own in Pilesgrove, with family surrounding him. Mr. Stanton just finished researching and writing a book on The Salem Railroad, and is on his computer every day communicating with friends around the world.
Thank you for your service Mr. Stanton. The Parade Committee is honored that you will be our 2018 Parade Marshal.