Category Army Service

“They gave their sons to military services” – WWII Memorial honors them

Tim B

This weekend we visited the World War II Memorial in Washington DC that honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 like US Army Staff Sergeant Charles “Chuckie” Melvin Wilson, 36thBomb Squad, 801stBomb Group who died, and all who supported the war effort from home. Stone architecture, bronze sculptures, and a glorious fountain combine to recognize the many ways Americans served in the fight to end tyranny and restore freedom around the globe.

The memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people and is divided into two sides (north and south) that represent the Atlantic and Pacific fronts. They incorporate bronze baldachins, bronze columns bearing American eagles, World War II victory medals, and inscriptions noting the victories in the European and Pacific theatres of operations.

Chuck serviced in the Atlantic

Especially moving to see were 56 triumphal columns surrounding the fountain that list U.S. states, commonwealths, and territories that sent men and women to serve under the U.S. flag during WWII. Chuckie was from Pennsylvania. Each column has two wreaths, one inside and one outside. One wreath consists of oak leaves, representing industrial might. The other consists of wheat, representing the agricultural might of the United States.

Chuckie’s home state

D-Day: A Turning Point in World War II – took years organize

As dawn broke on the French coast at Normandy on 6 June 6 1944, the long-awaited invasion of northwest Europe was, by all accounts, an awe-inspiring sight—the largest amphibious invasion force in history massed in the waters of the English Channel. The giant invasion had taken years to organize, in part because of the need to build up adequate forces in Britain.
In the months leading up to the invasion, millions of tons of supplies, ships, planes and weapons were transported across the Atlantic Ocean to Britain in advance of the operation. Hundreds of thousands of troops were assembled in southern England and intensively trained for the complicated amphibious action against Normandy.

Chuckie arrived in Britain five months before in January 1944 with the U.S. Army Air Forces joining the Carpetbaggers who flew hundreds of flights to provide aerial supply of weapons and other matériel to resistance fighters behind enemy lines in France, Italy and the Low Countries in advance of D-Day. Two months before D-Day, Chuckie paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom when his plane crash landed while on a Top Secret night mission in France to supply the French resistance armies for D-Day.

A mighty endeavor – the hour of great sacrifice

On the night of 6 June 1944, President Roosevelt went on national radio to address the nation for the first time about the Normandy invasion. His speech took the form of a prayer. Chuckie’s parents would have listened with false hope from incorrect information that their their son was ‘over there’ officially classified as Missing in Action. The U.S . Army Air Force had kept from them the truth that one month before his commanding officer had confirmation that Chuckie was Killed In Action. Roosevelt’s radio address that night included a few brief words of comfort to the many American families whose worst fears would come true. Their loved ones – and Chuckie – would not return home alive.

“Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom. And for us at home — fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas — whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them–help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.”

President Franklin D. Roosevelt 

The D-Day invasion opened up the long-awaited Second Front against Hitler. The United States and its allies had launched the greatest amphibious invasion in history on the shores of France. Over 150,000 soldiers, sailors, and airmen stormed the beaches of Normandy beginning a campaign that would end with the unconditional surrender of Germany in May 1945. In August, a second Allied invasion force landed on France’s southern coast. Soon Paris was liberated, and by the fall, Allied armies were poised to cross the German border. 

The Carpetbagger’s long held secret contribution to paralyzing German infrastructure has now gained widespread recognition for its significant role in helping to defeat the enemy. Dwight D Eisenhower credited the Carpetbaggers and Free French enormous contribution – “Without their assistance, the liberation of France and the defeat of the enemy would have consumed much longer time and meant greater losses to ourselves.“

President Franklin D. Roosevelt 

The Memorial it sits on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. A series of bas-relief sculpture panels created by sculptor Ray Kaskey is set into the balustrades of the north and south ceremonial entrance walls.

Created by sculptor Ray Kaskey

The Freedom Wall – Gold stars mark the price of Freedom

The Freedom Wall, an arched wall containing thousands of gold stars, is where the nation “mark the price of Freedom” and honor the 416,800 American servicemen like Chuckie who died in uniform during WWII. Unlike the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, there are no names listed at the WWII Memorial. Instead, those men killed in action are honored with the gold stars. The gold stars come from a military tradition in the USA where military families hang small flags in the windows of their homes to note that a family member was serving in uniform. If that member paid the ultimate sacrifice, then the blue star would be replaced with a gold star.

The Freedom Wall

Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the WWII Memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people to the common defense of the nation and to the broader causes of peace and freedom from tyranny throughout the world. It will inspire future generations of Americans, deepening their appreciation of what the World War II generation accomplished in securing freedom and democracy. Above all, the Memorial stands as an important symbol of American national unity, a timeless reminder of the moral strength and awesome power that can flow when a free people are at once united and bonded together in a common and just cause.

President Harry S. Truman

For more information, see the special online exhibit, D-Day and the Normandy Invasion, hosted by the National Archives and Google Cultural Institute.           

Everyone leaves behind a legacy when they die.

Tim B

US Army Staff Sergeant Charles “Chuckie” Melvin Wilson, 36thBomb Squad, 801stBomb Group, was killed in action on 28 April 1944 along with four other American aviators when his B-24 ‘Liberator’ Bomber crashed in the French village of Saint-Cyr-de-Valorges. He is permanently interred in the military war grave cemetery Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial located in Draguignan, France. 

US Army Staff Sergeant Charles “Chuckie” Melvin Wilson
Born: January 19, 1922 – Died: April 28, 1944

These few details are all his family had about the fate of their son, their brother, their nephew, their cousin or the uncle they never knew.  The ‘good guys won’; Chuckie was ‘killed in action’ and he’s ‘buried over there’ were the only memories spoken of or shared as the years went on. Little information was known. No one from his family had visited his grave. They never had passports, knew anyone French or traveled abroad.

The journey begins.

I had always been curious to know more about Chuckie, other family members too. Surely there was more to know about Chuckie now available on the internet? The lives of those in the Allied Forces who fought and died in WWII are recorded in hundreds of thousands of films, photographs, letters and history books. Monuments recognize the victory they achieved to restore freedom and end tyranny around the globe.  These offer us a lasting record of their hopes, dreams, talents and ambitions, the countless lives they impacted, and the loved ones they left behind. But that record is incomplete and quickly disappearing for many. 

One of those is US Army Staff Sergeant Charles “Chuckie” M. Wilson.  When his mother (my great grandmother) died in the late 1970s, my family found a shoe box with a purple heart, a few undated photographs and just six official letters she received from the War Department over a 15 year period from the date of his death.  These were all the memories that remained of Chuckie. 

As the world commemorates the 75thanniversary of D-DAY this year, I felt a new sense of urgency and family duty to create a more complete digital record of Chuckie’s life so that his memory and contribution to freedom will not be forgotten.  With only a basic timeline of key events known from those six letters, I dove into the internet to see what more I could find. The internet has made it possible for anyone with a computer and curiosity to search hundreds of thousands of websites, indexed data bases and social media to uncover a wealth of facts, images and uncover the truth of personal human stories.  

The ultimate sacrifice, the unforgotten glory of their deeds.

What quickly emerged in my searches is a fascinating and remarkable story of heroism and bravery of a 22 year old man who enlisted in the Army to do his part in the fight for freedom for people in countries oceans away from his small town in Western Pennsylvania who soon found himself in England as part of the build up to the Allied invasion in France, details of his top secret air mission on that fateful day in advance of D-Day to supply the French resistance behind enemy lines, images of Chuckie and his fellow airman with their-24 ‘Liberator’ Bomber, a first-hand account of human tragedy as he and four fellow American airmen gave the ultimate sacrifice of their life for the liberation of France and the restoration of freedom, and a previously unknown monument to them erected with gratitude by the French villagers on the spot where they found his body under the plane wreckage after their fiery crash in Saint-Cyr-de-Valorges, France and the compassion they showed him as they quickly buried him in gratitude in a temporary grave so that his remains would be safe and could be returned with honor and dignity. 

It is my hope that by sharing some history, personal family stories and facts of Chuckie and his mission on this blog over the coming months, readers will gain an interesting snapshot into an important period in history. Together we honor those like Chuckie who fought and died for freedom. In late May, I will be the first family member to visit Chuckie’s grave in France and I will share that experience here too.  When I write my last post on this blog in a few months time there will finally be a more complete record of the life of Charles M. Wilson so that future generations can remember him, better understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn.

Thank you for your interest.

For all of us, may it evoke a small comfort to know that once we are gone, we will not be erased from the memories of others.

Tim B.

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25 May 2019 – family visit grave for first time

Tim B

As the world commemorates the 75thanniversary of D-DAY this year, I felt a new sense of urgency and family duty to visit Chuckie’s grave to honor his memory and contribution to freedom.  No one from our family had ever visited his grave. They never had passports, didn’t know anyone French and never traveled abroad. On a bright sunny Spring day in May, I journeyed to a beautiful cemetery nestled in the heart of a small village, Draguignan, in Southern France and visited Chuckie’s grave.

US Army Staff Sergeant Charles “Chuckie” Melvin Wilson, 36thBomb Squad, 801stBomb Group, was killed in action on 28 April 1944 along with four other American aviators when his B-24 ‘Liberator’ Bomber crashed in the French village of Saint-Cyr-de-Valorges on a secret mission to supply the French resistance in advance of D-Day. He is permanently interred in the military war grave cemetery Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial located in Draguignan, France. The site was selected because of its historic location along the route of the U.S. Seventh Army’s drive up the Rhone Valley. 

When I arrived the cemetery, staff members we at the gate to greet me. They were so warm and friendly and said how honored they always are when family members visit especially for the first time. The didn’t have any records or photographs of Chuckie on file so were particularly pleased I had made the trip and compiled this blog. It has helped them complete his story and will be included in ongoing educational programs and future memorial commemorative ceremonies. That alone made it all worth it.

For what is remembered lives.

I was given a white lily and taken to the row where Chuckie is laid to rest. Staff told me to walk on up ahead and I would soon came upon his headstone. They gave me a few moments alone to walk the few paces when I soon found him.. I didn’t know what to expect or how I would feel. What began casually a few months before as a simple desk research project to learn about a family member I didn’t know had now become an involved writing project published and shared with thousands of followers around the world on this blog and our Facebook page. Now being at the final resting place of all these young men and Chuckie that day I was filled with emotion that was sadness, gratitude – a but hugely inspired by the meaning of this unexpected journey.

Chuckie’s great nephew rubs sand from Normandy beach on the headstone which makes the letters more readable

Since neither Chuckie’s parents nor his siblings were ever able in their lifetime to visit his gravesite to say a final goodbye, I brought along a few items that his mother and brother had personally touched. A cotton flannel blanket of his mother Evie was placed over his grave. It was likely in her possession from the 1920s when the family lived at her ancestral home deep in south among the cotton fields of Mississippi. The wedding ring of Chuckie’s brother JB (and the father of this author’s mother) was placed on top of the cross headstone. It was the only personal item I had that he’d touched so seemed appropriate and meant to be.

A blanket of Chuckie’s mother Evie placed over her son’s final place of rest; a gold ring of his brother is placed on the topside of the cross.

I said a silent prayer of gratitude for his service and the ability to symbolically bring Chuckie the warmth of one last hug from his mother that he’d waited 75 years for.

The ultimate sacrifice, the unforgotten glory of their deeds.

The cemetery staff and a few other visitors joined me and gathered around Chuckie’s grave for a brief ceremony. First a moment of silence, then I shared the story of Chuckie, his family and what we came to learn about his brave service. We all reflected upon all the brave young men of the Allied Forces who fought and died in WWII and the glory of their deeds that shall not be forgotten.

Chuckie,s great nephew is joined by the cemetery Superintendent.
The State of a Pennsylvania flag flies as more than 100 men buried there are from Pennsylvania like Chuckie. And 80% buried there were just 20 years old when they died.

Together, we honor all those like Chuckie who fought and died for freedom. #RIP.

Lone Carpetbagger – Rhone American Cemetery, France

Tim B

Chuckie is is the only member of the 36th Bombardment Squadron and lone Carpetbagger buried at Rhone American Cemetery in the city of Draguignan which is located in Southern France. The squadron conducted special operations and electronic warfare missions over Europe from 1943 until the end of the war. By the end of World War II, several hundred temporary burial grounds had been established by the U.S. Army on battlefields around the world. In 1947, 14 sites overseas were selected to become permanent cemeteries by the Secretary of the Army and ABMC and included Rhone American Cemetery.  Chuckie was interred there on 21 December 1948.

Draguignan, is the final resting place for 860 American war dead, most of whom lost their lives in the liberation of southern France in August 1944. Their headstones are arranged in straight lines, divided into four plots, grouped about an oval pool. At each end of the cemetery is a secluded garden and fountain surrounded by the characteristic cypresses, olive trees, and oleanders of southern France.

The American Battle Monuments Commission, established by Congress in 1923, is an agency of the executive branch of the federal government. ABMC—guardian of America’s overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials—honors the service, achievements and sacrifice of U.S. Armed Forces. Each grave site in the overseas American World War I and II cemeteries is marked by a headstone of pristine white marble. 

The cemetery grounds are not American territory. However, use of the land is granted to the United States in perpetuity, free of any taxes, fees or any other charges. This is done through a treaty between the United States and France. Burial in ABMC cemeteries is limited by the agreements with host countries to members of the U.S. armed forces who died overseas during the wars. 

On the hillside overlooking the cemetery stands the magnificent chapel with its beautiful, decorative mosaic. On the retaining wall of the terrace are inscribed the names of 294 of the missing.

Rhone Chapel
The cemetery chapel
Looking out into the cemetery from the beautiful secluded garden and fountain
Mosaic
The beautiful, decorative mosaic inside the chapel

On the façade of the chapel is the sculpture of the Angel of Peace watching over the graves. Beneath the sculpture is the engraving, “Those who lie here died that future generations might live in peace.”

Between the chapel and the burial area, the great bronze relief map recalls the military operations in the region.

Bronze relief map recalls the military operations in the region.

Unlike the national cemeteries administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, all permanent American military cemeteries on foreign soil are “closed” except for the remains of servicemen and women lost during World War I and World War II that may be found on the battlefields or recently identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. 

The 2018 Memorial Day Ceremony at Rhone American Cemetery took place outside the memorial building. Image courtesy of Michel Delannoy.

Sixth Letter: 14 June 1950 – Death Statement

Tim B

World War II was the deadliest military conflict in history. An estimated total of 70–85 million people perished, which was about 3% of the 1940 world population (est. 2.3 billion). Chuckie was one of the 52,173 U.S. Army Air Force killed in action. On 14 June 1950 an official Statement of Death was furnished by the Department of the Army to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Court House, Beaver, Pennsylvania noting Charles M. Wilson was killed in action on 28 April 1944 in the line of duty in France.

Battle deaths of US citizens (including POWs who died in captivity, but does not include those who died of disease and accidents) were 292,131: Army 234,874 (including Army Air Forces 52,173); Navy 36,950; Marine Corps 19,733; and Coast Guard 574. Of those killed, 185,924 deaths occurred in the European/Atlantic theater of operations and 106,207 deaths occurred in Asia/Pacific theater of operations. Source: STATISTICAL AND ACCOUNTING BRANCH OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL (June 1, 1953).

The final resting place of Charles M. Wilson at Rhone American Cemetery in France

Fourth Letter: 18 July 1946 – Temporary burial location, Luynes

Tim B

Chuckie’s parents received a letter from the War Department providing them with the temporary burial location of their son in a US military cemetary located twenty-four miles north of Marseilles, France. It also references information will be provided at a later date for making arrangements for his final interment. At that time the next of kin, authorized to make the decision regarding their loved one’s interment, was given the option of having the remains returned to the United States for permanent interment at a national or private cemetery, or permanently interred at the overseas American military cemetery in the region where the death occurred.

Dear Mr. Wilson,

The War Department is most desirous that you be furnished information regarding the burial location of your son, the late Staff Sergeant Charles. M. Wilson, A.S.N. 13 108 714.

The records of this office disclose that his remains are interred in the United Statement Military Cemetery Luynes, Plot B, row 22, grace 259.

This cemetery is located twenty-four miles north of Marseilles, France, and is under the constant care and supervision of Unites States military personnel.

The War Department has now been authorized to comply, at Government expense, with your feasible wishes regarding final interment, here or abroad, of the remains of your loved one. At a later date, this office will, without any action on your part, provide you with full information and solicit your detailed desires.

Please accept my sincere sympathy in your great loss.

Sincerely yours,

 

Photo Credit: Arlington National Cemetery

Thomas B. Larkin
Major General – The 32nd Quartermaster General
February 1946-March 1949

As Quartermaster General, Larkin launched the program for return and final burial of American service personnel and civilians who died overseas during World War II. In January 1946, he was named by President Truman as Quartermaster General of the Army.  He served in that capacity until March 1949.

Third Letter: 22 April 1946 – Wilson family finally get the answer feared

Tim B

One sad truth Unforgotten Glory uncovered in research for this In Memoriam project is that many families were deliberately not ever told the full truth about the circumstances related to their loved ones’ death or contribution to Freedom – to protect the Carpetbagger secrets for over 50 years. Chuckie’s family waited for two long years – and nearly one year after the war ended – with the uncertainty that their son, their brother, their cousin, their uncle, their friend was “Missing In Action” and hope he might soon return home safely. Yet all that time the War Department knew he was killed in action from confirmation they received just ten days after Chuckie’s plane crashed from the French Resistance who retrieved his body from the wreckage and buried him.

When the news his family feared finally came to the Wilsons the letter contained many facts but also some fabrication and omissions likely put forward by the War Department as a plausible cover story so that the Carpetbagger Project would remain ‘S E C R E T‘ and to explain the delay.

“Dear Mrs. Wilson:

In am writing to you in reference to your son who lost his life in the service of his Country during the European conflict.

In an effort to furnish the next of kin with all available details concerning casualties among our personnel, the Army Air Forces recently completed the translation of several volumes of captured German records. [Untrue]

Captured German records? ~ This couldn’t have been true.

Chuckie’s commanding officer knew on 4 May 1944 ten days after the crash when the French resistance reported back to London he was killed, how he died and where they buried him. Three months later on 27 Aug 1944 his commanding officer got two first person accounts from two of Chuckie’s fellow crew who saw him dead that night. Then, on 22 April 1945 there was the very public ceremony in France with newspaper photographers and reporters and Chuckie’s squadron commander speaking.

“In regard to Staff Sergeant Charles M, Wilson, these records indicate that he was killed 28 April 1944 , when his B-24 (Liberator) bomber crash landed at Sr. Cry de Valorges, near Lyon, France. These records further state that his body was interred in the new cemetery of Lyon, row #3, grave #1.
The Quartermaster General, in his capacity as Chief, American Grave Registration Service, is charged with the responsibility of notifying the legal next of kin concerning grave locations of members of the military forces who are killed or die outside the continental limits of the United States. If the report of your son’s burial has not been confirmed and you have not been notified by the quartermaster General, that official will furnish you definite information immediately upon receipt of the official report of interment from the Commanding General to the theater concerned.
May the knowledge of your son’s valuable contribution to our cause sustain you in your bereavement.
Very sincerely,“

The letter was signed by Brigadier General Leon W John

Leon W. Johnson
Brigadier General, USA
Chief, Personnel Services Division

During World War II, Johnson was one of the first four flying officers of the Eighth Air Force, and served on it staff during its formative period at Savannah, Georgia. In 1943, he assumed command of the 44th Bombardment Group, which flew the Consolidated B-24 Liberator.
After V-E Day, he was Chief of Personnel Services at Headquarters, Army Air Forces, in Washington, DC, from 28 June 1945 to 15 May 1946.

The need to protect top secret missions in wartime to advance war objectives and prevent further harm and loss of life is certainly understandable. Yet, a consequence of protecting the Carpetbagger secrets were the parents, brothers, sisters, and other families such as Chuckie’s who lived the rest of their entire lives not ever knowing the facts of these brave men and the glory of their deeds that we know today.

In gratitude this project has reclaimed a more complete story of Charles M Wilson story which has now been widely shared with with others today and into the future In Memoriam.
A bit more of the story to come ~ Unforgotten Glory

A copy of the actual letter from the Headquarters, Army Air Forces

8 May 1945 – WWII in Europe ends sooner thanks to the Carpetbaggers

Tim B

The Carpetbagger’s long held secret contribution to paralyzing German infrastructure has now gained widespread recognition for its significant role in helping to defeat the enemy. The war in Europe concluded on 8 May 1945 following an invasion of Germany by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union, culminating in the capture of Berlin by Soviet troops, the suicide of Adolf Hitler and the German unconditional surrender. 

Carpetbaggers from their base at RAF Harington helped build disparate French resistance groups into an effective sabotage and guerrilla force. The objective was to help the French resistance to “harass, disrupt and divert” the German army’s defense against the Allies’ D-Day invasion. Following the Carpetbagger successes early in 1944, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, ordered Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz, Commanding General of U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe, to increase the size of the unit, which quickly grew to a force of 3,000 airmen, sixty-four B–24 bombers and several C–47s.

From January 1944 to May 1945, the Carpetbagger Project completed 1,860 sorties and delivered 20,495 containers and 11,174 packages of vital supplies to the resistance forces in western and northwestern Europe. More than 1,000 parachutists dropped through the B-24 Joe Holes into enemy territory.

Chuckie’s B-24 Liberator The Worry Bird was on one of the twenty-five B-24s lost. Eight more were so badly damaged by enemy action and other causes that they were no longer fit for combat. Personnel losses initially totaled 208 missing and killed and one wounded. Fortunately, many of those listed as missing had parachuted to safety and returned to RAF Harrington with the help of the same resistance forces they had been sent to resupply.

The Ambrose Crew in front of B-24 Liberator The Worry Bird.
Charles M. Wilson is 4th from left, front row kneeling.

“The Free French had been of inestimable value in the campaign. Without their assistance, the liberation of France and the defeat of the enemy would have consumed much longer time and meant greater losses to ourselves.”

U.S General Dwight D. Eisenhower

“The French Resistance Movement played a noble part in the liberation of Brittany and the peninsula was quickly overrun.”

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill

On 13 August 1945 the Carpetbaggers were re-designated as the 49nd Bomb Group H and the four Bomb Squadrons. On 7 July 1945, the air echelon of the 492 Bomb Group left Harrington for Kirtland Field, Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they later joined up with the ground echelon who had returned on the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth.

The 492nd Bomb Group deactivated on 17 October 1945.

Staggering losses

World War II proved to be the deadliest international conflict in history directly involving more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. The war took the lives of 60 to 80 million people, including 6 million Jews who died at the hands of the Nazis. Civilians made up an estimated 50-55 million deaths from the war, while military comprised 21 to 25 million of those lost during the war. Millions more were injured, and still more lost their homes and property. 

3 April 1945 – Chuckie’s brother enlists in the Army

Tim B

Nearly a year after Chuckie was killed in France in World War II, his older brother enlisted in the Army. The reason now is unknown but possibly out of a sense of duty to his country, honor the memory of his late brother – or both. Jack Wilson was 24 years old, married with a one year old daughter he left at home when he entered the Army on 3 April 1945.

Chuckie’s brother Jack, sister-in-law and niece on the day he left for the Army

Jack served somewhere in the Pacific. This picture of Chuckie’s brother was taken on the day he was discharged from the Army on 23 Sept 1945 just five months after entering service. The war had ended.

Chuckie’s older brother on right on the day he was release from service.

After the war Jack returned to his hometown Beaver, Pennsylvania where he worked as a salesman the rest of his life. He had two grandsons one of whom is the author of this blog. Jack died at the age of 71 years old never knowing the true story of his brother Chuckie’s Carpetbagger mission or the glory of his deeds now captured In Memoriam on Unforgotten Glory.