Robert Sheppard was born in Hope, KS on December 7, 1925 and graduated from Hope High School in May of 1943. He attended summer school and one semester at Kansas State College in Manhattan, KS. During this time he got orders to be indicted into the service. After a month deferment, Sheppard entered the Army, March 19, 1944 at Fort Leavenworth, KS. He took four months basic training and after a furlough was stationed at Fort Riley, KS for a short time before going to Camp Phillips in Salina, KS. September 1, 1944, he was given the rating T-5 and was transferred to the 40th Division Artillery at San Francisco, CA., receiving his first APO ( Army Postal Office group).November 9, 1944 Sheppard wrote his mother to report he was going to the South Pacific for assignment. He mentioned there was a lot of rain and mosquitoes. When they crossed the equator, Sheppard was included in the customary ceremony for those making their first crossing. Sheppard liked the Australian soldiers he met, enjoying their accents. Sheppard saw battle with Gen. MacArthur at Leyete and Luzon in the Lingayen Gulf area. It is likely Sheppard was part of The Invasion of Lingayen Gulf, 6–9 January 1945, was an Allied amphibious operation in the Philippines during World War II. In the early morning of 6 January 1945, a large Allied force commanded by Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf began approaching the shores of Lingayen from Lingayen Gulf, on the island of Luzon.