PFC Jack Gilbert Powers

PFC Jack Gilbert Powers was born in Bedford County, Virginia on 18 Apr 1920 to Henry Buford and Alice Pearl (Wilks) Powers.  His father worked variously in a tire factory and as a fireman.  Jack worked in a rubber plant.

Jack enlisted in the National Guard.  The pay wasn't much but every dollar counted in those later years of the Great Depression.  In February 1941, A Company 116th Infantry was federalized with the rest of the regiment and along went PVT Powers.  The unit was sent to England and on D-Day it attempted to assault Hitler's fortress Europe.  PFC Powers was killed here along with many in his company including 18 other "Bedford Boys". 

PFC Powers is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery and a cenotaph has been created for him in Greenwood Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia.