The Battle of the Bulge was the largest and bloodiest battle fought by Americans in World War II. Of the 600,000 allied troops involved in the battle that lasted from December 16, 1944-January 25, 1945, 81,000 Americans were killed, wounded or captured. Since the conclusion of the battle and War later that year, the surviving ones would bring new meaning to the phrase “battle tested” and forever be considered heroes.
Bob Arvidson, a lifelong Northwest Indiana resident who was born and raised in Miller and has lived in Portage for the past 60-plus years, is one of those heroes - serving the United States Army’s 272 Infantry Regiment 69th Division in the Battle of the Bulge.
Months after his graduation from Wirt High School in Miller in 1943, Arvidson was drafted, and would begin nearly three years of service in the Army while training in Camp Shelby.
Arvidson’s Division was the first to meet the Russians at the Elbe River on April 25, 1945 - a significant step toward ending the war.
“We captured about 24 88s (weapons),” Arvidson said of his trek from France to Berlin.. “All of Hitler’s youth were operating guns with a few troopers supervising them. Fortunately the good Lord was with us.”
Arvidson credits General George S. Patton’s leadership. The 69th Division followed Patton’s group all the way from Le Harve, France to Berlin.
“If it wasn’t for Patton, the war would have lasted much longer,” Arvidson said, recalling the famed Generals words: “If it takes a boxcar of dog tags to cross the Rhine River we are going to do it.”
The Battle of the Bulge was “really something,” said Arvidson, who operated machine gun No. 3 in his Division.
Arvidson’s role in the Battle of the Bulge came a generation after his father - Ivar Arvidson - followed a similar path from Le Harve in World War I nearly 30 years earlier.
“The difference was my father had to walk up all the hills, while I rode in a truck,” he said. “He inspired me to carry my gas mask at all times through Germany because he had got gassed himself. His preparation helped me get through the enemy’s territory.”
Arvidson and his father, both American heroes, would later work together in civilian life - building the Portage home Arvidson still resides in today. His son, Dennis, became a third generation war veteran, serving in Vietnam.
“My dad was the founder of this subdivision and helped build this house we’ve lived in since 1952,” Arvidson said of the home he has shared with Delores, his wife of 68 years.
The park located in the Harbor Oaks subdivision is called Robert’s Park, named in honor of Arvidson.
The park isn’t the only way Arvidson has been recognized for his service. In 2011, he was invited to be a member of the Honor Flight, a group that pays tribute to military veterans by planning trips to Washington D.C.
“It was a little emotional to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the well-built young kids marching back and forth in front of the monument. It was very gratifying,” Arvidson said.