Bob Napier won a Silver Star for being a "Son of Bitche."

Robert L. Napier was born February 19, 1923, in Monrovia, California, to Robert Henry and Cora Nickels Napier. Early in his life, Robert went to live with foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nickels, who resided in Santa Cruz. When he arrived in Santa Cruz, Robert Napier enrolled in Branciforte School and in 1938, entered Santa Cruz High School with the exiting class of 1941.

On August 8, 1941, Robert L. Napier enlisted in the US Army at Hamilton Field, California. Following basic training at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, he was transferred to Scott Field, Illinois, and then assigned to an Engineering unit at Fort Custer, Michigan. Desiring to be in an airborne unit, he transferred to the 101st Airborne Division, but was injured during a training jump and reassigned to Company M of the 398th Combat Engineers.

In October 1944, Napier's unit was shipped overseas and attached to the 100th Infantry Division in France. In December, after being engaged in heavy fighting in the Vosges Mountains, the 100th attacked the Maginot fortifications near the ancient fortress city of Bitche. During a combat engagement occurring on December 14, Private First Class Robert L Napier was killed in action and posthumously awarded the Silver Star. The accompanying citation read,

“For gallantry in action on December 14, 1944 in the vicinity of Bitche, France. During the bitter struggle to take the fiercely defended forts of the Maginot line, Private First Class Napier fearlessly advanced through severe enemy artillery, mortar and small arms fire, in order to get the machine gun into position from which maximum support could be rendered the advancing rifleman. When the intensity of the enemy fire made withdrawal imperative, Private First Class Napier voluntarily remained behind to furnish covering fire. Disregarding his own safety, he manned the gun alone, inflicting great casualties upon the hostile forces until he was hit and killed by an enemy mortar shell.”

Robert L. Napier is buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France. In addition to the Silver Star, his awards include the Purple Heart. His division also won a Presidential Citation and the accompanying name "Sons of Bitche."

(ABMC, 1930 US Census, CA Santa Cruz; SCHSC Pg. 14, SCSn November 11, 22 1945 5:4, January 19, 1945 1:1)