PFC Willie Robert Harrold

courtesy of Carol J. Kennedy

PFC Willie Robert Harrold was born 30 Aug 1922 in Hays, North Carolina. He was the oldest of the 9 children of James Alvin and Mattie Ethel (Hays) Harrold. His father worked as a carpenter and the family went where the work was. In 1930 they were living on Rolfe Creek Road in Northfork, West Virginia. 

Willie was drafted in October 1942. He first went to Camp Croft, South Carolina, completed his basic military training and married Reba June Myers also from Hays in March 1943. He was sent to England soon after that. PFC Harrold was transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry 4 Jul 1944 to serve as a rifleman. He then fought with the unit as the division struggled to capture Saint-Lo, France. He was wounded on 12 Jul 1944 and evacuated to a field hospital. He died of his wound(s) on 2 Aug 1944. 

PFC Harrold was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Hays, North Carolina.

Great, great grandfather PVT Christian Roope of F Company 52nd North Carolina Infantry was killed in action at Petersburg, Virginia.