Born 21 Jun 1891 in Prince Georges County, MD to Gustavus J. and Elizabeth W. (Hambleton) Ober. Graduate of Princeton University, 1913.
One of five brothers to serve in WWI. Enlisted Maryland National Guard, 28 May 1917 thru 26 Nov 1917; Battery A Maryland Field Artillery.
Officers Reserve Corps, 27 Nov 1917; Overseas Service, 26 May 1918 thru 13 Oct 1918 (Death) with 314th Field Artillery. Killed in Action, near Nantillois, Meuse Department in Grand Est, Northeastern France.
Meuse-Argonne Offensive: 26 Sep – 11 Nov 1918
314th Field Artillery Regiment, 155 Field Artillery Brigade, 80th Infantry Division Maj. Gen. Adelbert Cronkhite, commanding.
Citation for Gallantry in Action, 1st Lt. Robert Ober
“On the afternoon of October 13, 1918, 1stLt. Robert Ober was directing the barrage of Battery “B”, 314th Field Artillery, at the battery positions North of Nantillois. In the course of the barrage the battery was spotted by a German aeroplane and fire opened by the German battery with which the aeroplane was working. The first enemy shell which fell made the accuracy of the German adjustment obvious to all at the battery position. In spite of this fact, he continued to direct and encourage his gun crews. The example of his bravery and coolness inspired his men to forgetfulness of their own danger and a better performance of their duties.”
The 314th Field Artillery Brigade October 1918, The Meuse Argonne Offensive Excerpt from, Memories of Battery ‘B,’ History of 314th Field Artillery Published: U.S. Army, 1920.
“We also lost our Battery Commander, Captain Lovejoy, in this position, as he was evacuated to the hospital with influenza. Lieut. Ober took command of the Battery and upon orders moved same to Nantilicis where, having just pulled into position, the Battery was subjected to a rain of high explosive shells that resulted in the wounding of Sergeant Seeley and Private Mulvaney. The latter was evacuated to the hospital. It became necessary to move the Battery from its exposed position to a road north of Nantillois and, during the four-hour barrage on the following day, one of our guns exploded, killing Private Leonard and wounding Corporal Dotson and Private Schutte. Private Leonard was buried near the road and the wounded men were sent to the hospital. At this time occurred the death of Private Burroughs, who was killed by shell fire at the echelon at Hill 281, where he had gone to rest up. Fragments of the same shell that killed Private Burroughs severely wounded Private Payne, who was sent to the hospital after his wounds were dressed at the First Aid Station. The echelon moved to Nantillois, where hostile aeroplanes engaged in battles with ours caused Private Emmons Barnette to be hit by one of the stray machine gun bullets and his wound, being serious, was evacuated to the hospital. On October 13th, while firing a barrage to repel an enemy counter-attack, our position was again subjected to a terrific enemy fire which resulted in the killing of Captain Ober and the wounding of Sergeant Goldsmith, Privates Smith, Wincer, Hook, Ferguson, Adams and Fortney. Practically the whole one-gun crew who, after passing the night in a First Aid Station, was taken to a hospital. The bravery of the men is worthy of note at such death-dealing moments.”
Cenotaph in Family Lot, Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore, MD.
