SGT Roy Oakford Wilson

courtesy of Linda Mahood Morgan

SGT Roy Oakford Wilson was born 20 Feb 1918 in Burkes Garden, Virginia. He was the 5th of the 6 children born to John Robert and Ada Agnes (Dillow) Wilson. His father worked on a farm near Clear Fork, Virginia. which was valued at $1500 in 1940. Roy finished his education with grammar school and also farmed working for himself by 1940.

Roy was drafted in 1941 and after completing his initial military training he was assigned to A Company 116th Infantry, likely before it was sent to England in September 1942 aboard the Queen Mary. Once in England he then trained with the unit for the amphibious landing that was planned as an essential element of the liberation of Nazi occupied France. SGT Wilson was killed in action in that assault on 6 Jun 1944.

SGT Wilson was repatriated and re-interred in the Burkes Garden Central Cemetery in Burkes Garden.

Grandfather, James Allen Dillow, served as a PVT in K Company 51st Virginia Infantry (CSA)