Robert M. Emery

Robert MacNab Emery (September 5, 1911 – November 8, 1942) was a United States Army soldier during World War II who received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during Operation Torch near Djebel Mrdajajdo, Algeria. Emery Barracks in [Veitshöchheim, near Würzburg, in Bavaria, Germany, was named in his honor in 1953. The U.S. Army Engineer Port Repair Ship Robert M. Emery was also named in his honor.

Early life and education
Robert MacNab Emery was born 5 September, 1911, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to Brigadier General Ambrose Robert Emery and Elizabeth Christie MacNab. His father, a life-long soldier, was Commander of the Infantry Replacement Training Center at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, during World War II. Robert attended the Severn School and later studied Civil Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 1931 to 1934. While at MIT, he was a member of the Chi Epsilon fraternity and the Scabbard and Blade Society.

Career
While studying at MIT, Emery was enrolled in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). He was later commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Emery was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division during Operation Torch in North Africa. He was killed in action on 8 November, 1942. Lieutenant Emery was presented the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart posthumously for his actions on that date.

Emery was buried in Plot H, Row 12, Grave 10, in the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia.

Distinguished Service Cross Citation
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Robert M. Emery (0-317400), First Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 8 November 1942 in Algeria. First Lieutenant Emery made the supreme sacrifice while attempting single-handedly to eliminate an enemy machine gun nest holding up the advance of his unit at ***** [sic], Algeria. First Lieutenant Emery's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army. (War Department, General Orders No. 6, February 9, 1943)

Emery Barracks
Nord-Kaserne, also known as Adolf-Hitler-Kaserne, was renamed Emery Barracks (also called Emery Kaserne) on 18 May, 1953 (HQ USAREUR General Order #42, 18 May, 1953), in honor of 1LT Robert M. Emery of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who served with the 1st Infantry Division and was killed in action on 8 November, 1942, near Djebel Mrdajajdo in Algeria.

Awards and recognitions
Robert Emery's decorations and medals include: