Son of Charles McKinley Elkins and Martha Lovejoy, Charlie married Madeline Short, daughter of Samie Cleo Short and Callie Mabel Sergent, on April 23, 1947 in Pikeville, Pike Co., Kentucky. He had four siblings - Howard, Jesse, Gladis (Lowe), and Noah Edward Elkins - and a half-brother Kenny and half-sister Patricia. The father of one daughter and two sons and grandfather of one grandson, he loved hunting in West Virginia's woods and photographing its scenic byways.
Charlie was a salesman for Bankers Advertising Company of Iowa.
Military Service:
WWII Darby's Ranger —
Charlie enlisted in November 1942. He became a member of the elite commando unit called Darby's Rangers and served in Battalion 1, Company B and Battalion 3, Company E. On January 30, 1944, the lightly-armed soldiers were used to spearhead a raid on Cisterna, Italy, during the Battle of Anzio. It was a strategic miscalculation and the Rangers' ranks were decimated and disbanded.
WWII First Special Services Force —
Charlie was among the surviving commandos who were reassigned to the joint US/Canadian commando force. These soldiers were nicknamed "The Black Devils" and "Devil's Brigade." Charlie was in the Second Regiment. The 1st Special Service Force was disbanded December 5, 1944. Charlie ended his US Army service in September 1945 after earning the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 5 Bronze Stars along with a Purple Heart.
Congressional Gold Medal —
In July 2013, the U.S. Congress bestowed the highest civilian honor on the FSSF in recognition of their superior service during the Second World War.
Then, on February 3, 2015, the surviving FSSF veterans met in Washington, D.C. to accept the medal in recognition of their unit's momentous contribution.
Charlie was a salesman for Bankers Advertising Company of Iowa.
Military Service:
WWII Darby's Ranger —
Charlie enlisted in November 1942. He became a member of the elite commando unit called Darby's Rangers and served in Battalion 1, Company B and Battalion 3, Company E. On January 30, 1944, the lightly-armed soldiers were used to spearhead a raid on Cisterna, Italy, during the Battle of Anzio. It was a strategic miscalculation and the Rangers' ranks were decimated and disbanded.
WWII First Special Services Force —
Charlie was among the surviving commandos who were reassigned to the joint US/Canadian commando force. These soldiers were nicknamed "The Black Devils" and "Devil's Brigade." Charlie was in the Second Regiment. The 1st Special Service Force was disbanded December 5, 1944. Charlie ended his US Army service in September 1945 after earning the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 5 Bronze Stars along with a Purple Heart.
Congressional Gold Medal —
In July 2013, the U.S. Congress bestowed the highest civilian honor on the FSSF in recognition of their superior service during the Second World War.
Then, on February 3, 2015, the surviving FSSF veterans met in Washington, D.C. to accept the medal in recognition of their unit's momentous contribution.
Son of Charles McKinley Elkins and Martha Lovejoy, Charlie married Madeline Short, daughter of Samie Cleo Short and Callie Mabel Sergent, on April 23, 1947 in Pikeville, Pike Co., Kentucky. He had four siblings - Howard, Jesse, Gladis (Lowe), and Noah Edward Elkins - and a half-brother Kenny and half-sister Patricia. The father of one daughter and two sons and grandfather of one grandson, he loved hunting in West Virginia's woods and photographing its scenic byways.
Charlie was a salesman for Bankers Advertising Company of Iowa.
Military Service:
WWII Darby's Ranger —
Charlie enlisted in November 1942. He became a member of the elite commando unit called Darby's Rangers and served in Battalion 1, Company B and Battalion 3, Company E. On January 30, 1944, the lightly-armed soldiers were used to spearhead a raid on Cisterna, Italy, during the Battle of Anzio. It was a strategic miscalculation and the Rangers' ranks were decimated and disbanded.
WWII First Special Services Force —
Charlie was among the surviving commandos who were reassigned to the joint US/Canadian commando force. These soldiers were nicknamed "The Black Devils" and "Devil's Brigade." Charlie was in the Second Regiment. The 1st Special Service Force was disbanded December 5, 1944. Charlie ended his US Army service in September 1945 after earning the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 5 Bronze Stars along with a Purple Heart.
Congressional Gold Medal —
In July 2013, the U.S. Congress bestowed the highest civilian honor on the FSSF in recognition of their superior service during the Second World War.
Then, on February 3, 2015, the surviving FSSF veterans met in Washington, D.C. to accept the medal in recognition of their unit's momentous contribution.
Charlie was a salesman for Bankers Advertising Company of Iowa.
Military Service:
WWII Darby's Ranger —
Charlie enlisted in November 1942. He became a member of the elite commando unit called Darby's Rangers and served in Battalion 1, Company B and Battalion 3, Company E. On January 30, 1944, the lightly-armed soldiers were used to spearhead a raid on Cisterna, Italy, during the Battle of Anzio. It was a strategic miscalculation and the Rangers' ranks were decimated and disbanded.
WWII First Special Services Force —
Charlie was among the surviving commandos who were reassigned to the joint US/Canadian commando force. These soldiers were nicknamed "The Black Devils" and "Devil's Brigade." Charlie was in the Second Regiment. The 1st Special Service Force was disbanded December 5, 1944. Charlie ended his US Army service in September 1945 after earning the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 5 Bronze Stars along with a Purple Heart.
Congressional Gold Medal —
In July 2013, the U.S. Congress bestowed the highest civilian honor on the FSSF in recognition of their superior service during the Second World War.
Then, on February 3, 2015, the surviving FSSF veterans met in Washington, D.C. to accept the medal in recognition of their unit's momentous contribution.
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