Tracy Victor Rohrbaugh was born October 27, 1922 in Martin, Grant County, West Virginia to Victor Adam Rohrbaugh and Dovie Clara Rohrbaugh. The Rohrbaugh family had been well established in Grant County for ages, and Tracy was later joined by three brothers and five sisters. The Rohbaughs lived in Martin for all of Tracy's life.
Tracy was inducted into the United States Army in January 1942, and he trained at Camps Maxy and Hood in Texas. He was shipped overseas to the European Theater on New Year's Day, 1943. During his time in Europe Tracy served with the 625th Ordinance Ammunition Company. In his last letter home on April 17, 1944 Tracy stated that "everything is going fine and I could not be any better shape." Sadly, this would not last for long.
Just ten days after that letter was written, Tracy was killed in action while participating in Exercise Tiger. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and his body was buried at sea. In recognition of his honorable service in World War II, and for his ultimate sacrifice, Tracy Victor Rohrbaugh's name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridge, England, and Tracy's was one of the original names inscribed on the West Virginia Veteran's Memorial.
West Virginians in Exercise Tiger
West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database
West Virginia Archives and History