PVT Charlie Harvey Wilson

courtesy of Margaret Gagliardi

PVT Charlie Harvey Wilson was born 28 Jul 1912 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. He was the 2nd of George Thomas and Pattie Francis (Ellington) Wilson's 6 sons. The family farmed on their farm along Trottinridge Road near the intersection with Bluestone Drive in Mecklenburg County. Charlie completed high school and then also farmed for himself.

Charlie was already enlisted in the local Virginia National Guard unit, E Company 116th Infantry when the unit was mobilized on 3 Feb 1941 and he trained with the unit as it prepared for combat in Europe. PVT Wilson was with the unit at Fort George Meade, Maryland, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Camp Blanding, Florida and when E Company sailed for England in September 1942. When in England he then participated in the intense training, including training in amphibious operations, as the unit prepared for the invasion of Nazi occupied France. PVT Wilson was with E Company on D-Day and was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944.

PVT Wilson was repatriated in 1947 and re-interred with his family in the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Chase City, Virginia.

3 of Charlie's brothers also served in the war. Albert Leo Wilson served as a PVT until discharged in 1941. Thomas Cleat Wilson, served as a PFC in the U.S. Army 1940-1944. Ollie Jackson Wilson served in the U.S. Navy 1942-1945.