PFC Charles W. O'Dee

courtesy of Phyllis Meyer

PFC Charles W. O'Dee was born 12 Dec 1911 in Buffalo, New York. He was the 2nd of 4 children born to William Henry and Anna M. (Pheelbs) O'Dee. His father was a truck driver and died in 1939. In June 1936 he married Jane Towlson, also of Buffalo. In 1940, Charles was working for newspaper as a typesetter and reported a 1939 income of $1248.

Charles was drafted in June 1942. After some initial training he was sent to England and assigned to B Company 116th Infantry to serve as a rifleman. He would train with the unit for the amphibious assault on the beaches of occupied France. That operation would take place on 6 Jun 1944 and PFC O'Dee was killed in action in that operation on that day.

PFC O'Dee was repatriated and re-interred in the United German and French Cemetery in Cheektowaga, New York.