Robert Lee “Bull” Wolverton was born on October 5, 1914, in Elkins, West Virginia. He was the son of Wayne Jay Wolverton and Hattie Morgan Sharp Wolverton.
Robert graduated from the United States Military Academy with a BS degree on June 14, 1938. His October 3, 1940, promotion to First Lieutenant was made permanent on June 14, 1941. Wolverton was temporarily advanced to Lieutenant Colonel on January 18, 1943.
LTC Wolverton was the commander of the 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne, from 1942 until his death on D-Day, June 6, 1944, in an orchard outside St. Come-du-Mont, France. On the evening of June 5, 1944, LTC Wolverton gathered his men in an orchard adjacent to what is now Exeter airport, and he led them in prayer. This moment has engraved itself into the 101st Airborne Division history.
On his parachute jump, LTC Wolverton's parachute canopy snagged in the limbs of an apple tree, leaving him to dangle helplessly only a few feet from the ground. As he struggled to free himself from his harness, he was machine-gunned to death by German troops, who later used him for target and bayonet practice. When his body was recovered by American soldiers, he had over 150 bullet holes and bayonet wounds in his body.
After the war, LTC Wolverton's body was recovered and sent back to the United States. He is now buried in the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery in West Point, New York.
Among his commendations, in addition to the Purple Heart, LTC Wolverton received posthumously the Legion of Merit. The citation reads:
For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services as Battalion Commander, Third Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, from 20 July 1942 to 6 June 1944. Lieutenant Colonel Wolverton exerted skillful effort and professional ability in the molding of his unit into a very effective fighting unit. He delved into map study, intelligence information and the compiling of technical data in order to ensure perfect preparation and planning for the airborne operations of the European Continent. Lieutenant Colonel Wolverton landed at the head of his battalion on D-Day. He was mortally wounded in the early hours of the battle but in the ensuing days of vigorous fighting his troops wrote an indelible record of his outstanding leadership and sound tactical doctrine.
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.projectvigil.com, archive.wvculture.org, en.wikipedia.org