 son of Charles B. Simmons |
Remember...Charles Burgess Simmons
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Charles Burgess Simmons was born on November 29, 1915, near Holbrook in Ritchie County, West Virginia. His draft card states that he was born at "Bear Run." His parents were Salathiel A. Simmons and Tabitha Beck Simmons. The 1920 Federal Census shows that Salathiel and Tabitha's growing family was living in West Union in Doddridge County and included daughters Trecie, Laura, and Delphia and sons Charles and James. The 1930 census shows them to be living on Davis Run in Clay, Ritchie County, and sons Warren, Carl, and Kenneth had been added to the family. In 1935 his inferred residence was in Pocahontas County. The 1940 census shows another daughter and son in the household of Salathiel and Tabitha - Mary and Salathiel Jr.
In 1938 Charles married Hannah Frances Elliot Simmons, and in 1940 the couple was living at Central in Doddridge County in the household of Alfred and Tressie Elliot, Charles's in-laws. Charles B. and Frances had a son, Charles Thomas Simmons.
Charles Burgess Simmons registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, in Greenwood, Doddridge County. On that date he stated he was unemployed, although at the time of the 1940 census he was listed as a laborer in government work. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946, show that he was married, had a grammar school education, and his civilian occupation was that of farm hand. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on November 27, 1943, at Clarksburg, West Virginia.
Private First Class Simmons was assigned to the 330th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division.
The 330th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division, was organized on August 15, 1942, at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The regiment moved to the Tennessee maneuver area on June 23, 1943, and to Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky on September 12. They regrouped at Camp Shanks, New York, on March 30, 1944, and departed New York on April 6. Arriving in England on April 19, they landed in France on June 19, 1944 - 13 days after D-Day. The unit crossed into Luxembourg September 25, 1944, where it was attached to the 4th Infantry Division from December 3-7. It entered Germany December 6, 1944, where it was attached to VII Corps from December 27 through January 1, 1945. The 330th entered Belgium on December 27, where it was attached to the 3rd Armored Division from January 1-7, 1945. It returned to Germany February 22, 1945, where it was attached to the 29th Infantry Division from February 23-27. The unit entered Holland on March 21, 1945, and re-entered Germany on March 28, 1945, where it was attached to XIX Corps from April 5 through 7 and April 13 through 20. The 330th returned to New York on March 27, 1946, and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on that date. (Shelby L. Stanton, Order of Battle, U.S. Army, World War II. Novato, CA: Presidio, 1984: 247.)
Pfc. Simmons was killed in action on December 10, 1944, most likely in the area where Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium adjoin. While his death is listed as a result of the Battle of the Bulge on the West Virginia Veterans Database, that battle took place from December 16, 1944, through January 25, 1945. It should be noted that many operations were converging throughout that area of the European Theater at that moment. An inquiry by the Simmons family to the National Personnel Records Center shows no records pertinent to his service to be available; those records probably were lost in the fire at the center on July 12, 1973. However, it is possible to reconstruct his service record somewhat by following the trail established in the Stanton work quoted above.
The National Personnel Records Center did verify the following awards for Pfc. Simmons: the Purple Heart with one bronze oak leaf cluster, the Good Conduct medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze service star, the World War II Victory medal, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII.
| Pfc. Charles B. Simmons is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten in Plot N, Row 10, Grave 9. |  Green grass and white headstones cover the ground at Netherlands American Cemetery. Courtesy American Battle Monuments Commission |
Article prepared by Patricia Richards McClure
January 2021
West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.
