Staff Sergeant E. C. “Coy” Campbell
United States Army, World War II – Died in Training
194th Glider Infantry – 17TH Airborne Division
May 7, 2021 - E. C. “Coy” Campbell was born April 27, 1913, in the far east Texas town of Center that serves as the county seat of Shelby. His parents Annie Fleming and Francis Marion “Frank” Campbell were married in Shelby County June 30, 1909. They had two other sons Curtis (1910) and James (1915) before Annie’s untimely death in 1918 at the age of 21. She was buried in the Strong Cemetery, Shelby County. Two years later his father Frank married Miss Lizzie May Huckaby in Norphlet, Union County, Arkansas where the family was now living and they had eleven more children. During Frank’s lifetime he was a farmer, rancher, merchant and served ten years as Shelby County Clerk.
The 1940 census showed E. C. was now living in a boarding house in Shreveport, Louisiana where he was employed as a truck driver.(1) At age 27 he complied with the 1940 Selective Service Act by registering for the military draft on October 16, 1940 at Selective Service Board # 2, Shreveport. His Registration Card D.S.S. Form 1 noted the following; Residence, 1626 Cedar Street, Shreveport; Mr. Frank Marion Campbell was listed as the person who will always know your address, c/o Campbell’s Grocery, Center, Texas; Employed by the Independent Ice Company, Shreveport; five foot, 7 and one half inches tall, 165 pounds with blue eyes, blond hair and a light complexion.(2)
On March 10, 1942, E. C. was inducted into the US Army at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Following basic training he was assigned to the First Battalion, 194th Glider Infantry, 17th Airborne Division (Golden Talons). The 194th had been activated April 15, 1943 at Camp Mackall, North Carolina and was training for combat in the European Theater. They were stationed at the Tennessee Maneuver Area on February 7, 1944 and two weeks later sent to Camp Forrest, Tennessee.(3)
On June 20, 1944, Staff Sergeant E. C. Campbell died from a training accident that caused massive injuries to the head. He was pronounced dead at the Belmont Field Hospital, Coffee County, Tennessee.(4) His remains were returned to Shelby County where he was buried in the Sandhill Cemetery. Funeral information could not be found. Day is done, God is nigh.
Epilogue: His unit, the 194th Glider Infantry would arrive in England on August 28, 1944 and would serve in the Battle of the Bulge and Operation Varsity. The 194th returned to the US on September 14, 1945 and was deactivated at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts the same day.
References:
(1) Year: 1940; Census Place: Shreveport, Caddo, Louisiana; Roll: m-t0627-01386; Page: 63B; Enumeration District: 9-32
(2) The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Louisiana, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147
(3) “194th Glider Infantry Regiment (United States).” In Wikipedia, January 31, 2021.
(4) Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958; Roll Number: 5
