During World War II, Charles E. "Charlie" Boyd served on three continents and the Philippines Islands. Because his unit was constantly on the move, Charlie never received the medals and service ribbons he was entitled to for his service. The officers of Post 41, recently learned of this and decided to correct this oversight. Using a copy of his military records, the Post ordered his medals and service ribbons. His decorations include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Good Conduct Medal, three Campaign Medals, and the World War II Victory Medal.
At the May 7, 2014 Legion meeting, Commander Mike Linster presented Charlie with the medals and service ribbons that he earned during the war. Five generations of his family attended the presentation.
On May 24, 1943, Charlie was drafted into the United States Army . He was 26 years old and one of the first married men drafted during World War 2 from the Winchester area. He completed his basic infantry training at Camp Lee, Virginia; and in November, 1943, he sailed out of Norfolk and arrived in Tunisia, North Africa.
He was assigned as a rifleman with Company A, 6th Armored Infantry Regiment of the First Armored Division. His unit helped drive the Germans out of Africa and participated in the invasion of Italy. Charlie was wounded twice during fighting near Naples, Italy.
Since he had always been interested in electronics and radios, he often helped repair his unit's radios. As a result, in mid-1944, he was sent to a communications school on the Italian coast. When he returned to his unit he was assigned as a radio repairmen with the Headquarters Company.
In May, 1945, his unit was near the border of Italy and Switzerland when the Germans surrendered. Most of the men in his unit were being sent home, but Charlie's radio repair group bordered a ship and sailed for 61 days to the Philippine Islands. Here he was assigned to a Signal Depot Company in Manila for the brief period before Japan surrender.
After almost two years of overseas duty, where he participated in five military campaigns in both the European and Pacific Theaters, Charlie returned home and was discharged on November 4, 1945 with the rank of Technician Fourth Class. He returned to his home in Winchester.
After the war, he operated a television sales and repair store in Berryville for over 20 years. He has been a member of Lloyd Williams Post 41 for 61 years and has served as vice commander and chaplain. On May 17th, Charlie celebrated his 97th birthday.
