Person Page - 874

Coldwater Notes
Marriage Announced -- Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Pask announce the marriage of their daughter, Arlene, to Corp. Robert L. Simonds, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Simonds. who is stationed at Camp Livingston, La. They were married April 26 by the Rev. H. G. Hurrell.⁹

Robert and Arlene Simonds
YESTERDAY AND TODAY: Robert and Arlene Simonds
Robert and Arlene Simonds of 626 Wa Wee Nork Dr., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house from 1 to 4 p.m., at their home, Sunday, April 26.
This event is being hosted by their children, Linda and Bruce Myers of Howell, Scott Simonds of Battle Creek and their three grandchildren.
Simonds married the former Arlene Pask on April 26, 1942, in Coldwater.
He served four years in the Army, including three in the European Theatre. He was a sergeant when discharged.
He was also employed by Michigan Carton Co., St. Regis and Champion International. He retired in 1981.
She was a telephone operator in Coldwater, Fort Custer, and Percy Jones and later worked at Jacobson's. She has also been involved with the PBX Club of Battle Creek.
The couple requests that there be no gifts.¹⁰

A star for the ages
B.C. hero gets his Bronze Star 55 years late
The record books showed Staff Sgt. Robert Simonds of Battle Creek earned a Bronze Star for heroic action, firing his M-1 rifle so rapidly upon German enemies that they retreated, thinking he had a machine gun.
His personal medal collection, however, showed otherwise.
So on Monday, more than 55 years after earning his Bronze Star, Simonds received it.
"I had all those other kinds of medals," he said. "This is something I never realized I'd be honored with." No one did, until Simonds' son-in-law Bruce Myers of Howell began searching through old record books of the 110th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division with which Simonds served.
His name was on the list of those earning a Bronze Star, but even Simonds didn't know.
"This is such a nice honor for him," Simonds' wife, Arlene, said. "If it wasn't for our son-in-law we never would have known. "He did earn it, though."
Simonds certainly did earn the medal -- pinned on his left lapel Monday by U.S. Rep. Nick Smith, R-Addison, at McCamly Park -- during heavy combat July 29, 1944.
Just days earlier, his division had won the German town of Kesfeld, and enemy troops had begun to reinforce their positions to take it back.
As Simonds embarked on a ammunition resupply mission, he found a German patrol seeking to penetrate his division's newly gained territory.
Simonds instantly fired off 12 rounds from his M-1 as fast as he could, prompting the Germans to retreat. When he came back to his unit, the other soldiers asked him where he found the machine gun.
He pointed to his M-1, having turned back an entire patrol by himself.
Simonds didn't speak of the mission Monday; the story comes from information provided by the U.S. Army to Smith's office.
That's not uncommon of Simonds' humble generation.
"Most combat veterans don't talk about their experiences," Myers said. "It's a kind of experience they keep inside."
Simonds, who was wounded during combat in the Hurtgen Forest, also earned a Purple Heart. That award and numerous others showed up on his discharge papers. Yet the Bronze Star did not.
"This is, I think, bringing closure to something that was a part of his life and his history, maybe not to him but to his family". Myers said. "Although he was always a hero to us."¹¹

Robert L. Simonds
Battle Creek
Robert LaVerne Simonds, 81, of Battle Creek died Wednesday, Feb., 7, 2001, at home.
He was born April 14, 1919, in Reading to LaVerne and Mary (Hahn) Simonds and graduated in 1939 from Coldwater High School.
He served in the U.S. Army, 28th Division, during World War II as a staff sergeant with the infantry in the European Theater. He was wounded twice and received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart Medal.
He was employed as a millwright by Champion Paper Co, formerly Michigan Carton Co. and St Regis Paper Co., for 25 years, retiring in 1981. He also was the former owner of Columbia Hardware.
He married Arlene Pask on April 26, 1942, in Coldwater. She survives.
Also surviving are a son, R. Scott Simonds of Pennfield Township; a daughter, Linda Myers of Howell; six grandchildren; two great-grandsons; a brother, Richard Simonds of Colon; and sisters, Bernadine Heater of Addison, Donna L. Donahue of Huron Ohio, Beverly Sinclair of Hudson and Patricia Hamann of Adrian.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Simonds; and sisters, Geraldine Kitson and Wanda Simonds.
Community involvement, hobbies: Member of Eagles Aerie 299, where he served as president for two years. Member of American Legion Post 298. Enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, snowmobiling, playing horseshoes and participating in the Senior Olympics, where he was a medalist in the archery competition.
Visitation: Noon to 9 pm Saturday and Sunday at Royal Funeral Home, where the family will be present from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm both days. An Eagles service will be held at 7 pm Sunday.
Services: 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Burial: Fort Custer National Cemetery.
Memorials: Charity of one's choice.³