Memorial Day Tribute

By Christopher Miller

Pvt. Charles D. White
Pvt. Charles D. White, 20, of Lockport was reported killed on August 2, 1944 in France.

Charles entered the Army in the fall of 1943 and trained at Fort McClellan in Alabama.

He attended Lock Haven High School and worked at the General Armature Corp. prior to induction into the Army. He left for England on June 30 and was only there for a week before being sent to France.

Being raised by his grandmother, news of his death came as a particular shock to her.
Pvt. White’s body did not return home for burial until four years later, September 14, 1948. He was buried in the family plot at Dunnstown Cemetery.

His last letter, dated August 1, arrived in Lockport the day before the telegram announcing his death.
Charles’ childhood friend Pfc. Miles Geyers’ death was reported within two days of Charles. “It is a common tragedy of war that school friends and former playmates are killed in battle, but the tragedy strikes home more deeply when their deaths are reported almost at the same time,” a newspaper article reported.

 

Pfc. Miles R. Geyer
“A sorrowing father of a Lock Haven boy, who had twice won the Purple Heart, came to our knowledge today to tell of his son’s being killed in action in Italy, July 31, two days after he had written his last letter home,” an article said.

Pfc. Miles R. Geyer’s parents never saw him in uniform as he had never had a furlough after he sailed off to war on Mother’s Day, 1943.

Miles’ obituary mentioned that he had been through the invasion of North Africa and Sicily, and was in the “bitter fighting on the beaches of Salerno and Anzio.”

While serving in the Army, he was wounded in both Sicily and Salerno, having twice received the Purple Heart. Miles returned to action after having recovered from his second wound.

In his most recent letter home, he had written of visiting Rome and Vatican City.

He was employed at the Sun Shipyards in Chester when he was called to the colors.

A chance encounter on the frontlines but Miles and his brother Thomas within 500 years of each other for 15 days before either of them found each other.

When his brother Tommy was wounded in the leg and he had returned to his outfit there were 35 letters waiting for him, including one from his brother Miles who gave an address showing that Tommy was not that far away.

After comparing notes, they found they had fought in the same battle and did not know it.

We Remember~ Pvt. Charles D. White, Infantry
We Remember~ Pfc. Miles R. Geyer, Co. E, 30th Infantry

*This is two of five Memorial Day tributes. A new one will publish each week in May.