Charles Wright Wilkinson passed away on August 25, 2007, at the age of 83.
He was born on April 17, 1924, in Bogata, Texas, the fourth of seven children, to Charlie and Pearla Wilkinson. Following graduation from Bogata High School in 1941, he worked on the farm with his father for a year prior to joining the U.S. Army Air Corps on June 5, 1942.
After graduating from gunnery school in Harlingen, Texas, in 1942, he was assigned to a B-24 crew as a tailgunner-armorer with the 514th Squadron of the 376th Heavy Bombardment Group in the Middle East. He flew 37 missions, over 300 combat hours to targets in Italy, Sicily, Greece, and Romania. On August 1, 1943, he and his crew volunteered for the tree-top raid against the oil refineries of Ploesti, Romania. In the raid, 54 of 178 planes were lost along with almost 600 men. This was his last combat mission. For his heroism and service he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the European, Middle East Service Medal with four Bronze Stars, the Air Offensive Europe, Tunisa, Sicily Medal, and the Air Combat Balkans Medal. During his participation, the 376th Heavy Bombardment Group was also awarded two Presidential Unit Citations. He returned to the U.S. August 13, 1943, and was assigned as an instructor in the Aerial Gunnery School at Kingman, Ariz.
On his way to an assignment in Ardmore, Oklahoma, Charles met Geneva (Jean) Evans in 1944 while on leave in Galena Park, Texas. They were married 11 months later. They were devoted to each other for 62 years and served as wonderful examples to their children and grandchildren.
Charles was honorably discharged in 1945 and entered Sam Houston State Teachers College, where he received his Bachelor of Science in 1949. He later received his Master of Education from McMurry College in 1963.
Charles Wilkinson began his teaching career in a one-room school in Cuthand, Texas. He later taught in the Texas towns of Johntown, Bogata, and Abilene. In Bogata, "Coach" often carried athletes and students to games in the back of his '54 Chevrolet pick-up. Coaching girl's basketball during that time was among his favorite memories.
He moved to Abilene in 1959 to teach and coach at Ben Milam and Jackson Elementary Schools. He retired in 1984 after 35 years in the classroom. Charles was a caring teacher and a well-loved coach of young children. He was also known for his disciplined fairness. He leaves behind a great legacy in his former students who are a testimony of his wit, wisdom and teaching skills.
After retiring from teaching, he took a position with the Abilene Regional Mental Health and Mental Retardation Program until 1989 when he decided to catch up on fishing, hunting, and raising cattle on his "Belly Acres" farm in Jones County. In 1992, 50 years after their time together during the war, he was instrumental in helping reunite his WW II aircrew. He especially enjoyed traveling to various cities and states in recent years to visit with his friends and their families at the 376th Heavy Bomb Group Reunions.
