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Rodenberg, Robert R. (01994687): Difference between revisions

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|birth_place=East St. Louis, Illinois
|birth_place=East St. Louis, Illinois
|death_year=1994
|death_year=1994
|birth_date=8 November 1909
|birth_year=1909
|rank_final=Captain
|alias=Robert Ridgway Rodenberg
}}
}}


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''[[Rodenberg, Robert R. (01994687)|Robert Ridgway Rodenberg]]''' (died 7 October 1994) (ASN 01994687) was a Ritchie Boy (from United States; Protestant) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 5.
'''Robert Ridgway Rodenberg''' (8 November 1909 &ndash; 7 October 1994) was a United States Army officer who trained at [[Camp Ritchie]], Maryland, in [[Class 5]] and later served with OSS in the China-Burma theater.
</div>
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Robert was born in East St. Rodenberg, Congressman from Illinois, Bob found himself moved from his birthplace to Washington, D.
Robert Ridgway Rodenberg was born on 8 November 1909 in East St. Louis, Illinois, the son of Congressman William A. Rodenberg. Moved to Washington, D.C., as an infant, he attended schools including Tabor Academy and studied at Harvard University and Babson Institute (graduating in 1932). Before the war he worked as a newspaper reporter and in public relations and film shorts.


He graduated from the last in 1932 and away he went. After that first short hop, the youthful Rodenberg was somewhat stabilized in Washington for schooling. His education took him through John Eaton primary school; Devitt Prep; Stuyvesant School, Warrenton, Virginia; Tabor Academy, Marion, Massachusetts; Harvard University, and Babson Institute, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts.
Rodenberg enlisted in March 1942, served in the Quartermaster Corps, attended officers’ training, and trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 5). In March 1943 he sailed to the Pacific as a first lieutenant on intelligence duty, operating from India behind Japanese lines in Burma with guerrilla forces. After V-E Day he transferred to China with the OSS, serving at Hsian and entering Peking after V-J Day. Discharged as a captain, he was treated at Walter Reed for malaria and related illness contracted in the jungles. He later became president of the Baltimore Colts. Rodenberg died on 7 October 1994.
 
Assigned to the Quartermaster Corps, as an enlisted man Rodenberg got back to journalism as a columnist on the Camp Lec Traveler.
 
Louis, Illinois, on November 8, 1909, and went on the move almost immediately. Robert was a real estate developer and investor who also was a founder of the Baltimore Colts football team. R.R.R and several friends banded together to form the public relations firm of Sartwell, Snure, Rodenberg ard Barrett.
 
Rodenberg was next in New Mexico studying the possibilities of buying a newspaper in that territory. Day, Rodenberg was transferred to China with the O.S.S. Following his discharge as a captain, Rodenberg was admitted to Walter Reed Hospital to undergo lengthy treatment for recurring malaria and black fever, contracted in the jungles.
 
Rodenberg headed a syndicate that purchased what then was a defunct Miami franchise in the All America Football Conference and moved it to Baltimore. Rodenberg also was a minority stockholder in the original Washington Senators baseball team. Rodenberg founded RRR&G Real Estate.
 
The son of the late William A. C., at the tender age of six weeks. But that was only a sort of pre-basic training for globe-trotting.
 
Spain was the first stop, until Bob decided the newspaper profession was for him.
 
Robert passed away on October 7, 1994 at the age of 84.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
Line 47: Line 37:
* OB 34
* OB 34
* 1909-1994?
* 1909-1994?
* Middle name Ridgway from Colts biography; expanded in first/middle params. Exact March 1943 sailing year partially OCR-garbled in source (“March 19,”) — year inferred from wartime sequence; keep timeline cautious if stronger date surfaces.


== Technical record ==
== Technical record ==
Line 61: Line 52:
| row_source || both
| row_source || both
|}
|}
== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 8 November 1909 — Born in East St. Louis, Illinois.
* 1932 — Graduated Babson Institute.
* March 1942 — Enlisted in the U.S. Army.
* Class 5 — Trained at Camp Ritchie.
* March 1943 — Sailed to the Pacific; intelligence duty from India into Burma.
* 1945 — OSS service in China (Hsian; Peking after V-J Day).
* Postwar — Discharged as captain; treated at Walter Reed for jungle-contracted illness.
* 7 October 1994 — Died.
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* RB Archive packet PDFs (5-6 / Colts media guide)
* RB Archive, Baltimore Colts 1947 media-guide biography of Robert Ridgway Rodenberg
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records

Latest revision as of 01:24, 17 September 2026

Robert Ridgway Rodenberg
Personal details
Birth nameRobert Ridgway Rodenberg
Born8 November 1909
East St. Louis, Illinois
Died7 October 1994
NativityUnited States
ReligionProtestant
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
Arm / serviceNMB
ASN01994687
RankCaptain
Rank at RitchieSecond Lieutenant
Camp RitchieClass 5 (8 February – 9 April 1943)
Section5
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with {{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.


Robert Ridgway Rodenberg (8 November 1909 – 7 October 1994) was a United States Army officer who trained at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, in Class 5 and later served with OSS in the China-Burma theater.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Robert Ridgway Rodenberg was born on 8 November 1909 in East St. Louis, Illinois, the son of Congressman William A. Rodenberg. Moved to Washington, D.C., as an infant, he attended schools including Tabor Academy and studied at Harvard University and Babson Institute (graduating in 1932). Before the war he worked as a newspaper reporter and in public relations and film shorts.

Rodenberg enlisted in March 1942, served in the Quartermaster Corps, attended officers’ training, and trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 5). In March 1943 he sailed to the Pacific as a first lieutenant on intelligence duty, operating from India behind Japanese lines in Burma with guerrilla forces. After V-E Day he transferred to China with the OSS, serving at Hsian and entering Peking after V-J Day. Discharged as a captain, he was treated at Walter Reed for malaria and related illness contracted in the jungles. He later became president of the Baltimore Colts. Rodenberg died on 7 October 1994.

Research notes[edit | edit source]

  • OSS CBI
  • OB 34
  • 1909-1994?
  • Middle name Ridgway from Colts biography; expanded in first/middle params. Exact March 1943 sailing year partially OCR-garbled in source (“March 19,”) — year inferred from wartime sequence; keep timeline cautious if stronger date surfaces.

Technical record[edit | edit source]

Field Imported value
Class_ASN 994687
Class_Name RODENBERG, Robert R.
match_method asn_partial_name_exact
row_source both

Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • 8 November 1909 — Born in East St. Louis, Illinois.
  • 1932 — Graduated Babson Institute.
  • March 1942 — Enlisted in the U.S. Army.
  • Class 5 — Trained at Camp Ritchie.
  • March 1943 — Sailed to the Pacific; intelligence duty from India into Burma.
  • 1945 — OSS service in China (Hsian; Peking after V-J Day).
  • Postwar — Discharged as captain; treated at Walter Reed for jungle-contracted illness.
  • 7 October 1994 — Died.

Sources[edit | edit source]

  • RB Archive packet PDFs (5-6 / Colts media guide)
  • RB Archive, Baltimore Colts 1947 media-guide biography of Robert Ridgway Rodenberg
  • Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
  • Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
  • NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
  • 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2023-01-02 (1 post)
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