Robert J. Bender
Robert J. “Bob” Bender was born June 14, 1917, in St. Augustine Township, Pennsylvania.
Bob served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. He was a member of the Army Artillery Special Service baseball team from 1942-1945.
He was selected for the South Sector Army Pacific All-Star team in ’42. In 1943 his team won the Honolulu League title defeating 19 other teams while he batted .377.
By the spring of ’44, the best military baseball players were stationed in Hawaii. Bender played against major league talent including Joe DiMaggio, Pee Wee Reese, Phil Rizzuto, Red Ruffing and Johnny Mize to name a few. He played in the War Bond game in front of 20,000 spectators. In ’45, he was the player/manager for Fort Shafter as his team tied for the league title.
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