PFC Curtis Leo Tatum

PFC Curtis Leo Tatum was born 21 Mar 1923 in Cumberland County, North Carolina probably in Cedar  Creek. He was the 4th of 6 children born to Robert Leo and Cora Jane (Jackson) Tatum. Robert was a mechanic in a garage in Cross Creek, North Carolina. We think that Robert died in 1929. Cora didn't remarry and the older sons worked to support the family.

Curtis was in his senior year in high school when he was drafted in December 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to the England in June 1944 and from there to the replacement depot from which he was transferred to B Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944. He was transferred from B to A Company 116th Infantry on 23 Jul 1944. PVT Tatum was promoted to PFC on 11 Aug 1944. A Company was near Aachen, Germany on 13 Oct 1944 when PFC Tatum was struck in the back by fragments from an artillery shell. Evacuated to hospital he underwent surgery but succumbed to his wound(s) on 16 Oct 1944. 

PFC Tatum was repatriated and re-interred in the Cedar Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Great-grandfather, Allen M. Jackson, served as a PVT in I Battery 2nd North Carolina Artillery (CSA) in the Civil War.