ANDY ADKINS
80th Infantry Division - WWII Books
Robert T. Murrell (1916 - 2016)
Robert T. Murrell served as Secretary of the 80th Division Veterans Association for 16 years. In that capacity, he edited and published the quarterly news magazine of the Association, THE BLUE RIDGE. His writing skills have resulted in the publication along with co-editor Edgar Bredbenner, who helped to write the first ever 80TH INFANTRY DIVISION HISTORY. Also, several books about the infantries of the 80th Division during WW II, as well as a compilation of individual stories of men who served in the various companies of the Division. He long had the desire to write the history of the entire 80th Division for the period 1942-1945, and at the age of 91, began the task of doing just that. In 2007, he was appointed as the Association's Historian and acquired the documentation that had been held by his predecessor, enabling him to chronicle the day-to-day activities of the 80th Infantry Division, E.T.O. Mr. Murrell has visited the battlefields four times, gathering writing material on each visit.
Mr. Murrell was born on May 19, 1916, in Louisville, KY, the son of Emmett and Annie Murrell. His father was a ready-to-wear salesman and his mother a housewife. At the outbreak of the war in Europe (after serving in the Army Air Corp Reserve, and being discharged in 1941), he enlisted in the Army and received basic training at Camp Forrest, TN with other members of the 80th Division. He was assigned to Company M 318th Infantry. While serving in that unit as a Heavy Machine Gun Section Sergeant, he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star with "V" Clasp and two Oak Leaf Clusters, American Defense, American Campaign, Good Conduct, ETO, Armed Forces, Army of Occupation Medals, Combat Infantry, and Expert Infantry Badges. He also wears the Expert Pistol, Rifle, and Machine Guns Badges.
On April 16 1942, he married Doris (Bell) Murrell and they are the parents of Robert J. and Gayle C. Murrell. He retired in 1972, after being employed in the Rotogravure Printing Field as Plant Superintendent.
Robert "Bob" Murrell passed away on January 29, 2016; he was 99 years old. It was his wish that we convert these 80th Infantry Division histories to a print format so the legacy will continue. Andy Adkins (one of the 80th Division Veterans Association historians) edited all of Bob's books. All books are available on Amazon.
NOTE that all proceeds for the 80th Division History books (Bob Murrell's) go to the 80th Division Veterans Association
Book Title: 80th Division Operational History WWII
Published by: AZAdkinsIIIRelease date: March 2016
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9781530563791
Pages: 276
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Book Title: 317th Infantry Regiment History WWII
Published by: AZAdkinsIIIRelease date: November 2015
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9781514734704
Pages: 108
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Book Title: 318th Infantry Regiment History WWII
Published by: AZAdkinsIIIRelease date: November 2015
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9781514734704
Pages: 128
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Book Title: 319th Infantry Regiment History WWII
Published by: AZAdkinsIIIRelease date: November 2015
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9781514746141
Pages: 118
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Book Title: Stories of the Men of the 80th Infantry Division WWII
Published by: AZAdkinsIIIRelease date: November 2015
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9781514746141
Pages: 118
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Book Title: The Blue Ridge Division Answers the Call in WWII
Published by: AZAdkinsIIIRelease date: November 2015
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9781515191278
Pages: 128
Buy the Book: Amazon