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731. Pensacola's November Loss 11-9-1943 WWII

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Updated: Feb 28, 2022

US Army Staff Sergeant Henry (NMN) Wiggins was born in Headland, Henry County, Alabama (north of Dothan) on April 25, 1914, the son of the widow Ms. Lecie (NMN) Wiggins (1892-1960). There is little information about his family or upbringing, but we do know that he received a grammar school education and was unemployed in 1940. This may or may not have contributed to his entry into the US Army on April 2, 1941, prior to the beginning of WWII.


We know that his mother was widowed prior to 1920 and living in Henry County on a farm. By 1930, she and her children were living in Dothan, Alabama and was being supported by her sons Robert and Ezell and son-in-law Henry Jones who were all working at the fertilizer plant. Also contributing to the family support was her young son Henry who was a laborer at the "oil mill." By 1940, Lecie and Henry are living in Pensacola with both unemployed. We also know that Lecie was connected and/or living at one time with 36-year-old Bob Wiggins (L&N worker), Vester Jones (age 37), C. J. Jones Jr. (age 15), Alex Jones (age 14), Mary Lee (age 13), Eddie Lee Grace Hannah (age 27), and a David Grace (age 30).


After Henry's enlistment he was sent to Camp Blanding, Florida for processing and orientation. When he had completed his basic training, he was assigned to the 364th Engineer General Service Regiment. These regiments recruited or deployed African Americans soldiers and trained and equipped them to handle all sorts of general engineer work. These duties would comprise such work as construction and repair of roads, airfields, buildings, and bridges. However, in reality some of the black regiments received very little training and supplied with inadequate equipment. The 364th was formed and trained at Camp Claiborne Louisiana, in May 1942 before being sent overseas to England.


By November 1943, the 364th Regiment was located in the village of Boughton, in Northamptonshire, England just north of Northampton. Then something happened that brought about the death of SSGT Wiggins. His death is listed as a "DNB" or death non-battle death. This category entails a myriad of causes from disease, accidents, murder, etc. But no reason was ever listed as to any stated cause.


Whatever the cause, he died serving his country at her greatest time of need! Back home his mother was notified of his death and subsequent burial in the Cambridge Military Cemetery in Cambridge, England. His mother would stay on at her home at 1019 North Davis Highway as late as 1954. Six years later she was located at 1015 North Hayne Street at the time of her death on March 17, 1960, and burial in the St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery.









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