1SG John L Wilkes

1SG John L Wilkes was born 20 Jul 1919 to Leotie Davis and Mary Elizabeth (Carter) Wilkes in North Fork, West Virginia.  The 4th of 8 children, John worked on the family farm.  He is shown as still working on the farm in 1940.

The money paid to soldiers was a likely reason John joined the National Guard unit in Bedford, Virginia.  A member of A Company 116th Infantry, John was still with the unit when it was federalized.  In Jul 1941 he was enlisted in federal service for the duration of the war.  On 10 Aug 1941 he married Bettie Peters Krantz also of Bedford, Virginia.  He was with the unit when it departed for England and again when it boarded ships for the invasion of "fortress Europe".  1SG John L Willkes was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944. 

Other family who served include sister LTC Rubye Virginia Wilkes Archer (Nurse in WWII, Korea & Vietnam) and brother, William Henry Wilkes (Army 1943-46).

1SG Willkes is buried with many other members of his unit in Greenwood Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia.