Robert R. Rockwell Square

As you pass the watering trough in the center of town, you drive through Robert R. Rockwell Square.  You may wonder who he was and why the most significant intersection in the community was named after him. His is a story you really need to know.

“Bobby” Rockwell lived on Main Street, near the intersection with Depot Street, walked to the Union School each day, and later attended Lowell High School. He delivered the Lowell Sun newspaper to his neighbors and was an active member of Troop 28, Boy Scouts of America. However, as he grew, the world was in crisis, and he was soon to become embroiled in it.

As WWII raged, young men were required to register to be potentially drafted for military service. On March 4^th, 1943, eighteen-year-old Robert registered for the draft and, rather than waiting to be called, enlisted in the Army on June 16, 1943.

Although the concept of a large-scale parachute infantry was relatively new to the US Army, Private Rockwell joined the 507^th Parachute Infantry Regiment. After intensive training in combat skills and parachute operations, he and his unit sailed to England.

On D-Day his regiment was part of the invasion of Normandy.  Their mission was to secure a series of river crossing points.  However, bad weather, thick clouds, and heavy German anticraft fire forced his plane off course, causing the unit to be dropped and widely scattered in the wrong location.  Within the next two days of intense fighting, 200 members of the 507^th were lost and on June 11,1944, Private Rockwell also died in battle.

His body was returned to Lowell, attended by a military escort, and brought to lie in state at the Dunstable Congregational Church and was interned in the Central Cemetery.  …. Private Robert R. Rockwell had just turned 19 years old.