1st LT Carl Robert Hood “Bob” was Killed in Action while with the 4th Ranger BN E Co on this day 22 January 1944 in the Anzio Landings.
LT Bob Hood was born in Placentia, CA on 7 September 1922. He was the son of Carl Byrd Hood & Marbye Selena Curtis. The Hoods moved to Chino, CA in 1928. Bob and his 4 siblings grew up and were educated in the Chino schools. Bob graduated from Chino High as an well liked honor student and an outstanding football player. During his Sophomore year Bob and his team won the area Championship in football. He participated in many other school sports. In Bob’s last year of high school he also worked with his dad, Carl as a machinist at M. D. Young Mfg Co. He also joined the National Guard Unit Co F 185th Infantry in Pomona, CA. When WWII broke out he went into training at Camp Obispo and rose to the rank of Sergeant. Just before shipping overseas, Bob was accepted into Officer Candidate School and assigned to the Ordinance branch at Aberdeen Proving Ground where he graduated as a 2nd LT in August of 1942. The ORD was not adventurous enough for Bob, so when he went overseas and was in the replacement system Co A 7th BN he volunteered for Ranger service. He was transferred into the 1st Ranger BN HQ Co on 2 May 1943. When the 4th Rangers were just organizing he was transferred into 4th HQ Co and on 4 June 1943 he became a platoon leader in E Co. During the invasion of Gela, Sicily he was awarded the Silver Star Medal for his bravery despite being wounded.
Bob was promoted to 1st LT on 9 October 1943. He also became the Commanding Officer of 4/E twice, once when Captain Leilyn M Young was out for a month in August and during the Venafro and December operations when LT Orin E Taylor was wounded. Bob participated in the Anzio Landing and he was KIA on the first day of the operation 22 January 1944. It appears he was in the area of a railway bridge crossing when they were engaged in a fight with the enemy and LT Hood was Killed in Action. He was laid to rest in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial. He was survived by his parents and 4 siblings, Mary, Dorothy, Clifford and David Hood. I have corresponded with David’s son Mark Hood. Mark has become very interested in the rest of his uncle’s story and he has joined the official Descendants of WWII Rangers and is sharing all that has been found with his Dad and his father’s living siblings. They are very proud of Bob’s service. They have never forgotten his sacrifice.