PFC Charlie Ralph Gardner

PFC Charlie Ralph Gardner, b. 17 Jan 1924 - d. 24 Apr 1945. Son of the Reverend Robert Fulton and Mattie Esther (Warner) Gardner of Rockingham, North Carolina. Entering service in Jul 1943, Charlie was assigned to I Company 116th Infantry while the unit was in England and participated in the D-Day assault where he was first wounded. He returned to the unit on 24 Jul 1944 and then was injured (non-battle casualty) on 5 Aug 1944.  He came back to the unit after leaving the hospital on 5 Sep 1944.  Charlie went back to the hospital again a non battle casualty (illness perhaps) on 14 Nov 1944 and again returned to the unit on 11 Dec 1944.  He was at the 29th Division training center and back in the unit on 18 Mar 1945. He was killed in action on 24 Apr 1945.  PFC Gardner now rests in the Carolina Memorial Park, Concord, North Carolina.