Robert Thomas Bullock was born June 30, 1891 in Tarboro, Edgecombe County, North Carolina to Mary Eliza Brown and William Bullock. William Bullock was a book keeper and Mary was had no occupation. Robert has an older sister named Cora Bullock, who was just four years older than him. They were both raised in Tarboro, Edgecombe County, North Carolina and as Baptists. Robert Thomas attended Grammar school but he had no drive to further his education. He worked at the Oceanic W. Beach Hotel as a Head-Bellman for several years. He joined the Fraternal Order of Orion L&B Assn.
Before entering the service, he moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where he resided at 522 Bank Street. At age 25, Robert enlisted into the Army National Guard at the Hampton Institute, Virginia and started as a private on August 15, 1918. He was in the infantry. Robert’s training establishment was located at Hampton, Virginia. He was assigned originally to the Battery “C” 19th, Reg. F.A.R.D. at Camp Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Bullock’s rank was mainly a private but at times he would act as Corporal. Shortly after, he got transferred to Camp Lee in Virginia in Mid-January where he resided momentarily in the base hospital from catching the Spanish Influenza. He was on bed rest for seventeen days. On January 30, 1919 Robert Bullock was discharged from the service due to his illness.
In late 1919, he returned to civilian life and became a checker “police officer” at the Navy Yard in Norfolk, Virginia. Shortly after, Robert Thomas Bullock left the Navy Yard and moved to Salisbury, North Carolina. He never married nor had children. On October 5, 1937 Robert Bullock died in Asheville, NC due to tuberculosis and he was buried Salisbury National Cemetery, NC.
Sources:
“Robert Thomas Bullock” Find a Grave.com. Available Online: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=81550774&ref=acom Accessed: December 7, 2016
“Robert Thomas Bullock,” U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962, National Archives and Records Administration.
“Robert Thomas Bullock,” United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, National Archives and Records Administration.
“Robert Thomas Bullock,” World War I History Commission Questionnaires, Library of Virginia.
United States Census, 1900-1940.
Cynthia Aponte is a history major at Norfolk State University.