CPL Charles Ashby Coleman

courtesy of Kent

CPL Charles Ashby Coleman was born 15 Sep 1889 in Healing Springs, Virginia.  He was the son of James Wilbur and Cinderilla (Kenney) Coleman. His father was a shoemaker. His mother died before 1900 and he and his siblings went to live with his maternal grandparents.

After entering the army, Charles was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 116th Infantry.  He sailed with that unit for France aboard the USS Finland and was with the unit when it kicked off a major offensive in the vicinity of Verdun. CPL Coleman was killed in action on 16 Oct 1918.

CPL Coleman was likely repatriated in 1920-21 and re-interred in the Woodland Union Church Cemetery in Bath County, Virginia.

Maternal grandfather, James A. Kenney, was a SGT in G Troop, 18th Virginia Cavalry. CPL Coleman should not be confused with Charles A. Coleman of K Company 116th Infantry from Newport News, Virginia who survived the war.