SGT Ira Vernon Watson

SGT Ira Vernon Watson was born 9 Aug 1921 in Wayne County, Illinois. He was the 6th of 9 children born to Claude O. and Alma Marie (McCollum) Watson. His father farmed near Jasper, Illinois until the economics of the great depression forced him into road construction work probably associated with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in order to bring in necessary cash. While the family owned their home which was valued at $300 in 1940, Ira had to leave high school after 1-year and work to support the family as well along with his brothers and sisters. He worked as a hired hand for Steven Vennweitz in nearby Fairfield, Illinois. 

Ira was drafted in September 1942. After completing his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to G Company 116th Infantry. Still a PVT on D-Day he was with the regiment liberated Saint-Lo and moved towards Vire. Ira was promoted to PFC on 24 Jul 1944. PFC Watson was again promoted this time to SGT as the regiment began movement towards Brest, France. He was wounded by artillery shell fragments almost the whole length of his body and evacuated to hospital. He underwent surgery but he died on 3 Sep 1944. 

SGT Watson was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Maple Hill Cemetery in Fairfield, Illinois.  

Ira's older brother, Glen Harold Watson, also served as a SGT in the U.S. Army during WWII. Grandfather Joshua Watson served as a CPL in B Company 69th Illinois Infantry (USA) in the Civil War.