Memorial Street Signs
"WHITE'S LANE"
In observance of every Memorial Day, Hampton Veterans of Foreign Wars gave the supreme sacrifice in defense of their country, in WORLD WAR II, KOREA and VIETNAM and streets, bridges, parks & playgrounds in Hampton, were named in their honor.
In Memory of Robert K. White -- World War II
[Photo courtesy John Hirtle, Atlantic News]
Hampton Academy Jr. High School on May 29, 1998,
produced and directed by Sheila Nudd, Music Director.]
Bob White, fishing in France, 1945
12. ROBERT K. WHITE, offered by Molly Lang:
Robert White was in the Class of '43 at Hampton Academy. He was a good student and participated in events such as basketball and football. He also enjoyed music. He played the piano and later the accordion. His sister [Alice White Dalton], was also musically talented. She played in Hampton's first school orchestra [at the Centre School].
He entered the service on March 16, 1944. In October of the same year he was sent overseas to Wolfgaaten, Germany, as a member of the 310th Infantry.
Robert's best friend, Richard Blake, was killed when they were both fighting overseas. When Robert heard the news of his friend's death, he wrote this letter to the Blake Family:
"Dear Folks:
"I wish there was some way I could let you know of my real feelings on this beautiful Easter morning. Words on paper can never express what thoughts I have."I heard only the other day about Richard. I know it's useless for me to tell you not to feel badly. It's not human nature to do so. I do, it was hard for me to read the lines in which my mother told me.
"This morning as I was reading my Bible, I came across the lines, "For many are called, but few are chosen." I deeply believe that Richard was one of the chosen few. What greater thing could a man give his life for? Love of God, love of his country and the knowledge that he was building the road to a better world.
"As I write this, I'm wondering what kind of an Easter you folks at home will have. Today is quiet. More quiet than it has been in a long time. I guess that even the Germans have enough religion left in them to observe this greatest of all the days of the year.
"We will have services at the front today. Even amid the hell of war, God is with us.
"Let me close with this thought in mind that Richard has not passed away but has only gone on ahead of us to a better place in Heaven just as he helped better this earth. I believe this with all my heart and know that we'll meet again someday.
"Keep up your courage and don't lose your faith in God.
Sincerely,
Bob"
Private First Class Robert White was killed on July 1, 1945 in a train accident at the age of 19. He was travelling from a furlough to Riviera to Paris. After his death, the bodies of Robert White and Richard Blake, who was Robert's best friend and who had died earlier, were brought back to Hampton. The town held a double ceremony in their honor.
Memorial Rites For Robert K. White To Be Held Sunday
(Hampton Union), Thursday, September 6, 1945
Memorial services, for Pfc. Robert K. White will be held at the Methodist Church next Sunday afternoon at three o'clock. There will be special music besides remarks of tribute by the pastor.
Pfc. White, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest L. White of Mill Road, Hampton, was killed in a grain wreck while returning from a ten-day leave at the Riviera in France. Pfc.White reported for active duty in the Army in the spring of 1944, trained at Camp McClelland, and was sent overseas in November with the 310th Infantry, 78 Division. All during the winter he fought with a cannon company and after V-E Day {Victory In Europe], he was with the cannon company on guard duty.
Hundreds Attend Memorial Rites For Robert K. White
(Hampton Union), Thursday, September 13, 1945
Rev. Harold B. Keir, pastor of the First Methodist church, conducted public memorial services, Sunday afternoon [Sept. 9, 1945] for Robert K. White, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest L. White, Mill Road, Hampton, killed in a train accident in France.
Special music was offered by Mrs. Frances Reid, violinist, Mr. William Elliot, soloist, and Mrs. Annie Elliot, piano accompanist.
During the service, U. S. Army Chaplain, Captain Calvin Warburton, recently returned from the CBI Theater, said a few words in tribute to the Hampton soldier.
The American Legion Post 35 of the Hamptons' and its Auxiliary attended in a body as well as many friends and relatives.
It was announced at this service that Mr. and Mrs. Ernest L. White and Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Blake will present the Methodist church with a baptismal font in memory of their sons, Robert K. White and Richard W. Blake, who gave their lives in the service of their country.
Bob White . . . A Tribute
By "Bill" Elliot
Hampton Union, 1945
In the language of the game he loved, another football star has crossed the last white line to reach pay dirt, crossed the end zone of the great beyond. Bob White has scored his final touchdown for the team he so valiantly fought for. His final game was the game of life. He won it so completely that he has been awarded the great honor of being placed in the hall of fame of his country, where he will, even unto eternity, find happiness and eternal life. His name will be carved on the honor roll of his country and into the hearts and memories of all who loved him.
He brought honor to his teammates, to his family, to his country and his flag. He played the game till the final whistle sounded. In life, just as in his football days, Bob was a football players' football player. He was the lad who never asked for glory. The guy who played the line, who took the knocks and threw the blocks. He was big and rough and rough. The kind of a player who could smash an opponent to the ground with a vicious tackle and then leap numbly to his feet and give the other fellow a helping hand, or he could be the man on the bottom of the pile and with pain shooting through every part of his body, come up with a smile and a word of praise for the man who brought him down. In the huddle when things looked blackest, he could stir the boys to greater heights simply by a quiet word or a simple jest.
Football is a game in which one has to have rhythm, music and poetry in every movement; ease and grace and self assurance; a regard and respect for the other fellow. It's a game one learns the hard way or not at all. It has sorrow and joy and love and pity in it. It takes coordination and cooperation. In fact, it is the nearest thing to the game of life we know of. Bob White learned it and learned it well. Would to God we could have many more men to play the game of life the way Bob White played it. Clean and fair and hard, putting his all into it and asking nothing in return.
Friend Bob White is my choice for the all time, all American, all global football team of life. He is my star. Write him into your record books and never let his name or what he fought for die. Now as we doff our caps in final tribute and listen to the trumpet taps being played like a farewell alma mater, let us hear the echoing and re-echoing of a long cheer for Bob White, a football player's football player, a soldier's soldier, a man's man!
Bodies of Two War Heroes to Arrive Monday For Rites
Double Funeral Tuesday For Pfc. Blake and Pfc. White
Hampton Union, Thursday, November 25, 1948
The bodies of two war dead, Pfc. Richard W. Blake of Hampton and Pfc. Robert K. White of North Hampton, will arrive in Hampton on Monday evening, November 29, 1948.
A double funeral service will be held for the two Hampton Academy classmates at the First Methodist Church, Hampton, on Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. with Rev. Jack Boozer, pastor of the church, officiating.
A Guard of Honor from Hamptons' American Legion Post 35, will meet the 6:06 p.m. train Monday evening and provide a military escort to the Methodist church where the bodies will lie in state until the funeral services Tuesday afternoon. Visiting hours at the church will be from 7 to 11 p.m. Monday evening and 10 to 12 noon Tuesday, with the Legion Post maintaining an honor guard throughout the night.
Pfc. Blake, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Blake of Hampton, was killed in action during the Italian campaign in February, 1945. He enlisted in the Ski Troops prior to his graduation from Hampton Academy and High School in 1943 and was called into active service a few months following his graduation. He entered training at Camp Hale, Colorado and was sent overseas in January, 1944. He was reported killed in action in Italy when he had been serving with the Mountain Ski Troops in the Infantry Division.
Pfc. White, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest L. White of Mill road, North Hampton, was killed in a train wreck in France in June, 1945. He reported for active duty in the Army in the spring of 1944 and trained at Camp McClelland. He was sent overseas in November of the same year, a member of the 310th Infantry, 78th Division.
During the winter of '44 and '45 he fought with a cannon company and after cessation of hostilities in May, 1945, served with the same company on Guard Duty. Pfc. White graduated from Hampton Academy & High School in 1943 and left besides his parents, a brother, John T. White, and a sister, Mrs. Fred Dalton, both of North Hampton.
When it was learned that both boys were on their way home, arrangements were made with the Commanding General of the distribution center to have the bodies arrive at the same time. The boys had been lifetime chums as well as classmates at Hampton Academy and High School.
Military Rites For Two War Heroes Largely Attended
Legion Units, Town Officials Honor Pvts. Blake And White
Hampton Union, Thursday, December 2, 1948, Vol. XLIX, No. 48
Flags of Hampton schools were at half-mast Tuesday when a double funeral service for two former classmates at Hampton [Academy and] High [School] who made the supreme sacrifice during the war, was held at the First Methodist Church.
The bodies of Pfc. Richard W. Blake, USA, and Pfc. Robert K. White, USA, arrived Monday evening at the Hampton depot and were escorted to the Methodist church by member of Hamptons' American Legion Post 35, and its auxiliary unit. A guard of honor was furnished by the local Legion Post until the services Tuesday. The double funeral was requested by the families after it had been learned that the bodies had been returned to the United State within two weeks of each other.
Rev. Jack Boozer, pastor of the Methodist church and a former Army chaplain, officiated at the joint service at which, in addition to their classmates in the Class of 1943 at Hampton High school, town officials, members of the Legion Post and its auxiliary and the Ladies' Aid and Wesleyan societies of the church attended. William Elliot was the soloist. Burial took place in the family lots ins the High School cemetery.
Honorary bearers were William D. Holman, Harlan Carter, Robert Buttrick, Joseph Hammond, Donald Palmer and Earl Blatchford. Active bearers were Elliott Noyes, Milton Emery, Stanwood Brown, Gerald Batchelder, Seth M. Junkins, Geary Hurd, William Palmer and Cedric Dustin, Jr. A volley was fired followed by taps by a bugler. Vernon Dennett was in charge of the squad. Rev. Mr. Boozer conducted the committal services, assisted by Charles F. Butler, Legion Chaplain.
Pfc. Blake, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Blake of Hampton, was killed in action during the Italian campaign in February, 1945. He enlisted in the Ski Troops prior to his graduation from Hampton High school in 1943 and was called into active service a few months following his graduation. He entered training at Camp Hale, Colorado and was sent overseas in January, 1944. He was reported killed in action in Italy when he had been serving with the Mountain Ski Troops in the 10th Mountain DivisionPfc. White, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest L. White of Mill Road, Hampton, was killed in a train wreck in France in June, 1945. He reported for active duty in the Army in the spring of 1944 and trained at Camp McClelland. He was sent overseas in November of the same yar, a member of the 310th Infantry, 78th Division
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and Scout Flies High For Eagle Project,
and Eagle Scout Project Applauded,
and also, Hampton Plaques Project Completed}