Kenneth Paul Wilson was born September 12, 1922 in Hamlin, Lincoln County, West Virginia to Basil Wilson and Lula Roberts. The family did not remain in Lincoln County for long, however, as Kenneth spent his entire life growing up in Spencer, Roane County, West Virginia.
Kenneth left the comforts of Roane County and was inducted into the United States Army at Fort Hayes, Ohio on November 19, 1942. He was sent overseas to serve with Company B of the 35th Signal Construction Battalion on August 20, 1943. Kenneth served admirably as a Technician Fifth Grade in the European Theater from August 1943 until his untimely death in April 1944.
Kenneth was killed in action while participating in Exercise Tiger on April 28, 1944. At the time, he was the twelfth soldier from Roane County to lose his life in the conflict and the Roane County Reporter ensured that Kenneth's name was listed on the honor roll of men and women from the county who were giving their lives for the cause of freedom.
Kenneth was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and his body is buried at Plot E, Row 6, Grave 5 at the Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridge, England. In recognition of his honorable service in World War II, and for his ultimate sacrifice, Kenneth Paul Wilson's was one of the original names inscribed on the West Virginia Veteran's Memorial.
West Virginians in Exercise Tiger
West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database
West Virginia Archives and History