PVT Carl Vincent Rockett

PVT Carl Vincent Rockett was born 10 Aug 1923 in Mount Vernon, Illinois. He was the youngest of the 4 children born to James S and Fannie B (McGehee) Rockett. His father worked at various jobs in supporting his family and the family lived in Beaver Creek in Hamilton County, Illinois. We are unsure how far Carl was able to progress with his education but he was working in a restaurant in 1940 when he was 16 reporting a 1939 income of $120 and his father was working for the Work Progress Administration (WPA) reporting 1939 income of only $105. He later went to work in the Hiram Walker & Sons distillery in Peoria. 

Carl was drafted in December 1943. After completing his basic military training he was sent to the European theater. PVT Rockett was transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry on 15 Jul 1944 to serve as a rifleman. The unit was at Saint-Lo, France at that time and soon began the push towards Vire. PVT Rockett was wounded on 23 Jul 1944 and evacuated to hospital. He was returned to the unit via the replacement depot on 19 Dec 1944. The unit was now in Germany and he was once again a rifleman in L Company. PVT Rockett was killed in action on 27 Feb 1945 as L Company and 3rd Battalion fought to control Immerath, Germany. 

PVT Rockett was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Springerton Cemetery in Springerton, Illinois.