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name
WHITLEY, Charles Vaiden - Date of
birth
unknown -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
unknown -
Hometown
Zebulon, Wake County, North Carolina
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-520914 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
E Company,
2nd Battalion,
517th Parachute Infantry Regiment
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
3 January 1945 - Place of
death
Mont-de-Fosse, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 17 | 37 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Colon V. Whitley (father)
Nell Whitley (mother)
Nancy Whitley (sister)
More information
Lt Whitley was awarded the Bronze Star Medal postumously. The citation cited: On 3 Janaury 1945, E Company was assigned the mission of attacking the enemy held town of Mont-de-Fosse, Belgium. On reaching a point close to the enemy lines, the platoon was subjected to a severe concentration of fire. Observing that his platoon leader was wounded. Lt Whitley immediately took command and ordered his greatly-outnumbered force to fall back. Aware that the witdrawal order would have to be passed on to forward scouts, Lt Whitley, rather than jeopardize the lives of any of his men, set out on the mission himself. Alternately dashing and crawling through the withering hail of enemy machine-gun bullets, he courageously moved forward until he was mortally wounded.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census, www.517prct.org, www.ww2-airborne.us
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The News and Observer - 11 November 1945, Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute