Cecil Watkins, Aged 38 Of Nichols Is Reported Missing in North Africa
Nichols—Cecil Watkins, 38, son of Mrs. Hattie Watkins of Nichols, was reported missing in action with the U. S. Army in North Africa, in a message just received by his mother.
No details were supplied, other than that he had been missing since Dec. 6, 1942.
Mr. Watkins joined the army in 1925 and had served in the Hawaii area for several years. He was last heard from at Honolulu some time ago.
Mr. Watkins was born at Nichols and attended grade school here, later attending school at Burlington.
His father, Charles Watkins, is a resident of Gulfport, Ill.
One sister, Mrs. Oleao Oostendorp lives at Nichols; another, Mrs. Ida Redman at Gulfport. Mr. Watkins also has three brothers, Ralph and Arley in the army; Harley at Paducah, Ky., Dwight, of Milan, Ill., and Russell, of Rock Island.
Source: The Muscatine Journal, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1943
Cecil R. Watkins was born Mar. 1905 to Charles W. and Harriett Hall Watkins. He died Jan. 30, 1943 and is buried in North Africa American Cemetery, Tunis, Tunisia and has a cenotaph in Watkins Cemetery, Nichols, IA.
Pvt. Watkins served in World War II with the U.S. Army 6th Infantry, 1st Armored Division and was MIA and became a POW and died as a POW. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com
