Robert Leroy Scott
Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 30 May 1951, page 1
Back home after nearly 11 months of combat duty in Korea, Pfc.
Robert L "Scottie" Scott, 20, of 723 Liberty street, Newport, joined with the
nation on Memorial Day in offering his silent prayer for his buddies still on
the Korean fighting fronts and for those who shall never rise again to fight.
Scottie, while gathered with his mother, Mrs. Mary Scott and his sisters and brothers on Memorial Day, devoted his prayers and thoughts to Korea and his fighting pals of the 35th Regimental Combat Unit of the 25th Infantry. Pfc. Scott was an average American lad of 17 when he enlisted in the Army in April 1948. It was after 23 months duty with the occupation forces in Japan he was shipped into Korea on July 19, 1950.
For nearly 11 months he fought with his regimental combat unit through mud and 26 below zero weather, up and down one mountain after another, counter-attacking or retreating, engaging in four major battles, crossing and re-crossing the 38th parallel on six occasions. He was decorated with the Bronze Star and later receiving the Purple Heart for a shrapnel wound on his right hand.
Pfc. Scott was awarded the Bronze Star for his heroism in taking the place of two "young kids who appeared to be scared" and took over a machine gun and mortar position after the gunners had been "knocked out." Scottie said he was within 25 to 30 yards of the enemy as he sent out the blistering crossfire. In his citation for bravery, the 20 year old Newport soldier was credited with brilliant performance of duty in bringing about a victory for the United Forces in the brief but bitter skirmish.
Pfc. Scott said one third of the United Nations casualties have resulted from trench feet, frost bite of frozen feet and hands. It was on April 28 that Pfc. Scott left Korea. Pfc. Scott's brother, William, 32, is a wounded veteran of World War II. At the conclusion of his 30 day leave, young Scott said he is to report to Ft Knox for duty as an instructor.
Along with his eradication of Chinese Reds in the Korean war, Pfc. Robert Scott also aided in bringing new life into the world. It was one night on a mountainside that Pfc. Scott observed a woman crawling along a path. He investigated and found a Korean woman seeking her way back of the battle lines. A short time after his rescue of the woman, Pfc. Scott assisted the medical corpsmen in the birth of a baby to the war refugee.