PFC Pearl McCoy Robertson

courtesy of Glenda Lambert-Gibson

PFC Pearl McCoy Robertson was born 13 Sep 1921 in Craigsville, Virginia. He was the eldest of 2 sons born to Minnie Belle (Swisher) and her second husband, Manly Pearl Robertson. His father worked as a section hand on the railroad, presumably the Chesapeake and Ohio. Manly reported a 1939 income of $850 and paid $11 monthly rent for a home at 1718 Plunkett Street in Staunton, Virginia.

Pearl enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard in Staunton drilling every Tuesday evening and 2-weeks in the summer for about $1 per day. He was called to active duty as a PVT with his unit, L Company 116th Infantry, on 3 Feb 1941. The unit was soon sent to Fort Meade, Maryland and later participated in the Carolina Maneuvers before training at Camp Blanding, Florida. He left home for England with the 116th Infantry in September 1942. Once there he would train with his unit for a planned amphibious assault that was to be part of the liberation of occupied Europe. PFC Robertson was killed in action taking part of in that assault on 6 Jun 1944.

PFC Robertson was repatriated and re-interred in Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Virginia