PFC Dennis James Wiley was born 2 Jul 1914 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the 3rd of 6 children born to Thomas and Winifred (McGee) Wiley. His mother was a native of Ireland as were all his grandparents. His father had worked as a farmhand and as a city employee he maintained the streets in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, Thomas suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 60 in March 1925. Dennis' older siblings supported the family but his formal education did not extend past the 8th grade. Dennis went to work becoming a machinist working for Erie Truck Parts at M and Erie Avenue in Philadelphia.
Dennis was drafted in April 1941. In accordance with the policy at the time he was likely sent to Fort George Meade, Maryland where he was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 116th Infantry where he served as a driver. PVT Wiley would have trained with the unit there and at Fort Bragg, South Carolina and Camp Blanding, Florida before going to England with the unit in September 1942. The entire regiment trained there for the amphibious landing planned as a part of the liberation of occupied France. PFC Wiley was with his unit in the landing on 6 Jun 1944 when he was killed in action.
PFC Wiley's body was not recovered and he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery.
All 4 of Thomas and Winifred's sons served during WW2.
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