World War II Honoree

Charles Elwood Watson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Benton Harbor, Michigan

Honored By

Watson Family

Relationship

granddaughter

Entered service 6/23/44. received training at Ft Sheridan, Il and Ft Hood, Tx, was sent to the Philippines Islands on 1/23/45 with Co h, 129th Inf, 37th div. On 4/23/45, his battalion advanced on enemy-held positions in the vicinity of Baguio, Luzon. One rifle company of the battalion late in the afternoon of that day seized an important hill and was given the mission to defend it, during the night. To aid in the defense, the heavy machine gun section, to which Pvt. Watson was assigned, was given the definite part of the hill to defend. At 10 pm, the enemy made a counterattack on the hill, and the machine gun squad resisted the attack, during which Pvt. Watson was killed by enemy gunfire. Body was interred with full military honors; he was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart posthumously.