Wilmer Warthen Mathews was born 3 November 1923, at “Rosehill ,”Front Royal, VA and died 25 April 1997 at Bloxom, VA and burial was 27 April 1997 at Liberty Cemetary in Parksley, VA.

Wilmer enlisted in the U.S. Army, and was just married to Eunice M. Clayton of Bloxom, VA. He left Baltimore, MD, 5 March 1943 and served overseas from 8 October 1943 to December 1945. He served with the 148 th Combat Engineers (active combat) and this group was attached to the following in World War II: the 82^nd-Normandy, 101^st-Northern France, 29^th-Ardennes, 1^st-Rhineland, 2^nd-Central Europe, 3^rd-Battle of the Bulge, 9^th -Germany. His awards included the following: European Africa, Middle Eastern service Ribbon, World War II Victory, Good Conduct Ribbon, American Theater Service Ribbon.

Soldiers in the front lines had no one in front of them except the enemy and he was with the first group that went into Germany building bridges across the Rhine River. He was a retired Carpenter, Local No.101, Baltimore, MD before he left to reside at Bloxom, VA.

A former buddy was Richard Caldwell of Selma, Alabama.

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