His modest home in Ramer is shrouded in the rich treasures of an active life, accented with family mementos. Neatly stacked in the kitchen are several thick scrapbooks which documents a military history that began, as many others, during teen years.

Bob was born in another Montgomery County, in Arkansas and grew up in Kansas on the G.W. Conelly Ranch. “A small spread” he jokes “with only a mere 17,000 acres to roam.” With horses more transportation than sport, he worked the cattle and tended the sheep and hogs. He was, by all standards, a cowboy growing up fast and strong in the west, in a country about to call him for another duty.

The Army weighed Bob in at only 130 lbs, and with his shoe size of only 5 ½ EEEE, kept him from marching for 3 months. He laughs at that memory, “working on the ranch had me strong as an ox. I could run all day.” The Army infantry had other plans for him. He accepted the challenges willingly, and made the most of his new career managing to make new “buddies” and have fun along the way.

Bob’s military travel eventually brought him by train through the town on Ramer, Alabama. To meet girls, the soldiers found it fun to toss out their names and addresses on cards from the train’s window, hoping the notes would be picked up by some charming young lady. Millie Cole, then 12, picked up the names of Bob and his friend and passed them on. It was at a local dance spot at Luverne, that Mayor King introduced Bob to Ethyl Athey. Bob laughed when he quoted the Mayor, “See that redhead over there? She can keep up with you!” And she did. Bob and Ethyl had six children and were married 57 years until she died of cancer two years ago.

As war heightened in Europe, Bob Trafford’s military duty took shape. He spent most of his time in the 35th Infantry Division, 320 Company. These men were assigned to the front line, where it was Bob’s job to string communication lines.
Only a handful of these men survived.

Soon after the war, Robert and Ethyl moved to live in Ramer, Alabama. Bob worked with Capitol Chevrolet in Montgomery, and Gowan Service Center. After retirement, he worked at The Grady School maintaining the football field.

After all these years, Bob still feels the loyalty and gratitude for his fallen comrades of so long ago. The young men he grew to know have become ageless and he remembers them with respect and love. Recently his family surprised him with a trip west to his childhood home in Kansas. There, he discovered his long-time friend Robert E. Thornton had not been buried oversees as he had been told, but actually was buried on American soil.

Robert reverently shared his feelings of that afternoon. “Only one way to say goodbye to a fallen buddy…go to the grave. Talk. Then bring yourself to full attention and give him your best salute, and that’s what I did.” His eyes reflected the joy and pain of finding the resting place of his best friend.

Five daughters, one son and daughter in law, husbands and children all form the montage that brings together Bob’s six children who call themselves “The Herd”. There are 32 of them in all, who, every year find the time to come together for Christmas. In fact, they’ve never missed coming home to Christmas at home with parents.
Not one of them.

The question of where does one put all those guests at one time is resolved by some staying with Bob, or at another family member’s home. One son brings his motor home and “camps out”. However they do it, they make it work to continue the tradition of being together as one big family.

Bob enjoys the company of his children, and as his daughter, Ernestine puts it, “He never quits. He has just completed wooden toy trains for all of the grandchildren.” He reminds me of the quote, ‘All Hell Can’t Stop Us’ from Tom Brokaw’s book, The Greatest Generation-WWII. That’s my Dad.”

Bob Trafford has never stopped long enough not to be happy. He has always been duty-bound. What gives him the love of life in the pleasant country lifestyle he enjoys is his family. The children who come together in pride and respect of a World War II war hero and love of the man they call Daddy.