When Bob Foizie was just out of high school and standing on the shores of the Carrickfergus Castle in Northern Ireland in 1941, he met a shy, Irish lass by the name of Hazel, who was at the boat landing with her parents. Foizie introduced himself to the 15-year-old and the two decided to correspond over the next few years as Bob fought in WWII for the United States.

 

Bob spent 42 months in the war and marked the months off on his skin with a marker. Before his stationing in Africa, Foizie was based in Northern Ireland near Belfast where he met his one love.

 

“We met when I was a young teenager,” said Hazel. “I was 13 when the war started and when we’d hear the air raid horns go off over Belfast, we got out of our homes and ran into the fields. It was a very scary time.”

 

Bob, who today suffers from dementia — gets frustrated when he can’t always remember much about the war.

 

“Anything about the wars, I’d just as soon rather forget it,” said Bob, who some have nicknamed Crabby Bob. “I don’t really like to be bothered by that war.”

 

Bob played up his crabby role, though he coyly smirked underneath that hard veneer. He came across to this reporter as a personable, friendly softy who put on airs and is very sweet.

 

Since the war was something Bob wanted to distance himself from, he “didn’t feel like bothering” with receiving the much-deserved medals and ribbons when he got out.

 

So Hazel decided to get Bob what he deserved.

 

“I went to the VA and had them look up what medals and ribbons Bob earned and they sent them to us,” said Hazel. “He even got the Bronze Star, though he doesn’t know why.”

 

The Bronze Star is awarded to individuals who, while serving in the United States Armed Forces in a combat theater, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement or by meritorious service not involving aerial flight.

 

Crabby Bob just shrugs his shoulders.

 

“I think sometimes a whole unit can get a Bronze Star, so there’s that,” he said.

 

Hazel has Bob’s six ribbons and medals framed and on display in their home. She also has a drawing Bob created in pen and ink of Queen Elizabeth. When he finished the masterpiece, Hazel said, he told her he wanted to send it directly to the Queen.

 

“I just told him it would be a waste of time, but he went ahead and sent it,” she said.

 

Sure enough, Bob received a royal letter from a subject at Buckingham Palace (not directly from the Queen herself) thanking Bob on the Queen’s behalf for his beautiful artwork.

Quite a keepsake.

 

Bob was part of the North African invasion that took place from June 10, 1940 to May 13, 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts (Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War) and in Morocco and Algeria (Operation Torch), as well as Tunisia (Tunisia Campaign) and included.

 

Fighting in North Africa started with the Italian declaration of war on 10 June 1940 and during Operation Compass, the Italian 10th Army was destroyed and the German Afrika Korps—commanded by Erwin Rommel, who later became known as "The Desert Fox.

 

During this time, Bob and Hazel wrote letters to each other, keeping their love stoked amidst the terrors of war. While on leave, Bob would hitchhike to meet Hazel and pledge their devotion to each other.

 

As the war closed out in 1945, Hazel took the leap and left Ireland for the United States and Bob and Hazel were married in 1946 in Hot Springs, AR. 

 

They eventually settled in Baudette, MN and Bob went on to earn a degree and become a teacher of biology and science at a Southern Wisconsin school.

 

Foizie grew up in Duluth and as soon as his schooling was done at Central High School, he was commissioned to serve in the National Guard. Eventually he became part of the Signal Corps where his unit would develop, test, provide and manage communications and information systems support for Armed Forces in Northern Africa.

 

The Foizies reared four children (Bobby, Liz, Kathleen and Gordon) and have nine grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. The Foizies just celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary this year.

 

“He didn’t think he’d be alive 71 years much less be married that long,” said Hazel. 

 

“I’m lucky to be alive right now,” said Bob. “It must be because I’m so mean and ornery.”

 

He really isn’t. Thank you for your service to our country, Bob.

 

Bob and Hazel live in Mississippi Cedars in Becker.