His father, a life-long soldier, was Commander of the Infantry Replacement Training Center at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, during World War II.

The Distinguished Service Cross citation reads: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Robert M. Emery (0-317400), First Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 8 November 1942 in Algeria.

First Lieutenant Emery made the supreme sacrifice while attempting single-handedly to eliminate an enemy machine gun nest holding up the advance of his unit at ***** [sic], Algeria.

First Lieutenant Emery's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.Emery was buried in Plot H, Row 12, Grave 10, in the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia.

Since 1992 it has served as the Asylbewerberheim des Freistaats Bayern (English: Asylum-seekers' Home of the Free State of Bavaria), housing up to 450 people from as many as 35 different nations.