The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PFC Robert Donald Ivison, RA12284786, who died in the service of his country on May 20th, 1951 in Chonjo-Ri, South Korea. The cause of death was listed as KIA. At the time of his death Robert was 19 years of age. He was from Syracuse, New York. Robert's Military Occupation Specialty was 4745-Light Weapons Infantryman.
The decorations earned by PFC Robert Donald Ivison include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Korea Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Private First Class Ivison was a member of the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On May 20, 1951, his unit was assigned to I Corps launching the United Nations Spring Offensive northeast of Seoul, South Korea when he was killed by enemy fire. For his leadership and valor, Private First Class Ivison was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantrymans Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
BURIAL LOCATION:WOODLAWN CEMETERY, SYRACUSE, NY
I knew Bobby very well. We went to school together and run around as teenagers do together. He, myself and a couple of other guys got the bright Idea to join the army after an all-nighter. Since Bob was underage I helped him convince his parents to sign for him,something I have alwqys felt bad about.; We took our basic together and shipped out to Japan together. He was assigned to the 35th and I to the 65th Cmbt Engr. Bn. We got together quite a lot and had some good times. We were really close friends and after I was listed as MIA (later as POW) he traded his jeep driver job for front line duty. During an assault he was hit and "while mortally wounded did destroy an enemy machine gun nest single handed and provided cover fire for the withdawal of his unit". I have always felf this was his was of trying to get even . He was awarded the DSC,,,posthumously. Bob Hickox USA Retd
His DSC citation:
*IVISON, ROBERT DONALD
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Robert Donald Ivison (RA12284786), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Private First Class Ivison distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chonjo-ri, Korea, on 20 May 1951. On that date, Private Ivisons company was given the mission of attacking and securing the position of a well-entrenched and fanatically determined enemy force holding Hill 198. Moving in a frontal assault up the hill, the unit was pinned down by intense and accurate enemy small-arms and automatic-weapons fire. As the enemy began to roll grenades down among the group, Private Ivison, observing that both the platoon leader and platoon sergeant had been wounded, realized that his comrades must move from their precarious position on the slope or face annihilation. Jumping up from his position, he rushed through the accurate, point-blank enemy fire toward a hostile machine-gun emplacement, shouting words of encouragement to his comrades and urging them forward. With his automatic rifle, he killed the two enemy machine gunners and, although mortally wounded in his charge up the hill, he continued to fire at the now retreating enemy. His actions so inspired his comrades that they charged up the slope, routing the enemy from their position.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 615 (August 5, 1951)
Home Town: Onondaga, New York
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