Sunday, December 11, 2016

PVT Herbert Chapman Whitaker

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT Herbert Chapman Whitaker was born 21 Nov 1915 in Elmore County, Alabama. He was the youngest of the 5 children born to Auther Barney and Ella (Robards or Robberds) Whitaker. His father farmed, probably as a sharecropper in various places in Elmore County. Herbert did not continue his education beyond the 7th grade but went to farming with his father and then found work at the Tallassee Mills Company. Herbert married Lydia Elenor Knox in August 1941. 

Herbert wasn't drafted until March 1944 being inprocessed at Fort McPherson, Georgia and after completing his basic military training was sent to the European theater. PVT Whitaker was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry to serve as a rifleman. He was wounded by artillery fragments in the head and heal on 3 Dec 1945. Despite evacuation and treatment gangrene set in and PVT Whitaker died of his wounds on 11 Dec 1944.

PVT Whitaker rests forever in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.


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