PVT Charley Montgomery Wilkinson

PVT Charley Montgomery Wilkinson was born 5 Feb 1914 in Mabelvale, Arkansas which is now part of Little Rock. He was the 3rd of the 5 children born to George Isaac Welch and Margaret Leona (Smith) Wilkinson. He also had 3 older half-siblings from his mother's first marriage some of whom lived with the family, particularly when Charley was younger. George was a minister who pastored several churches over time and did other work to support his family. The family lived in several places in Saline County, Arkansas before moving to Cordell, Oklahoma. Charley apparently entered the work force after completing the 8th grade. By 1932 Charley had moved to Smith County, Texas where he met and married Florence Omen Grimes. Over the next 7-years the couple would have 2 sons and a daughter. In 1940 Charley was working for the Works Progress Administration but despite working full-time in 1939 he reported an income of only $250 for that year. The family was renting their home in Cherokee County, Texas for $3 a month. 

Charley was drafted in April 1944 initially training at Camp Wolters, Texas before being sent to the European theater. PVT Wilkinson was transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry on 26 Oct 1944 while the unit was in action against German forces near Aachen, Germany. PVT Wilkinson then fought with the unit until he was killed in action on 27 Nov 1944. 

PVT Wilkinson was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred in Jacksonville City Cemetery in Jacksonville, Texas.

Charley is shown in the photo above with his wife and children shortly before he left for Europe. Younger brother James Leon Wilkinson served in C Company 9th Infantry before being commissioned and eventually serving as a CPT in the U.S. Air Force.