PVT Fred H. Shackleford

courtesy of Dick Belle

PVT Fred H. Shackleford was born in Clarke County, Virginia and we believe his date of birth was 4 May 1923. He was the youngest of the 3 children born to Mervin Howard and Lula Mae (Smallwood) Shackleford. His father was a carpenter and he died in 1938 at the age of 62 when he contracted influenza. Fred's older brother supported the family as a laborer.

Fred joined a Winchester based Virginia National Guard unit, I Company 116th Infantry, and was a member of the unit when it was mobilized in February 1941. At some point he left I Company. PVT Shackleford was transferred from the 80th replacement battalion to Cannon Company on 25 Jul 1944. He fought with his unit until he died on 10 Aug 1944.

PVT Shackleford was repatriated and re-interred in the Green Hill Cemetery in Berryville, Virginia.

Two of Fred's grandfathers are known to have served during the Civil War. Joseph W. Feltner served as a PVT in A Company 6th Virginia Cavalry (CSA) apparently dying in service in April 1863. Grandfather, John Henry Shackleford, served as a PVT in E Company 12th West Virginia Infantry (USA).