Charles L. Mills
Date of Birth: September 18, 1912
Place of Birth: Osceola, St. Clair Co., Missouri
Father and Mother’s Names: Charles B. Mills and Ida Leona (Pearson) Mills
Date of Enlistment: October 16, 1940 from Tetonia, Teton Co., Idaho.
Service Branch: Army
Rank/Specialty: Technician 4th Grade
Service ID: 37158738
Division/Company/Unit info: 562nd Engineer Boat Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Engineer Special Brigade.
Riley Connection: NARA (National Archives) records list this soldier's Home of Record as Riley County, Kansas. In 1930 he was listed as living in Manhattan, Kansas.
Date of Death (and Age): Reported MIA (Missing in Action) on March 12, 1945 (age 32).
Place of Death: Philippines
Grave Location: Name listed on Tablets of the the Missing, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines.
Bio: Charles Lewis Mills was born on September 18, 1912 in Osceola, St. Clair Co., Missouri to Charles B. Mills and Ida Leona (Pearson) Mills. As a young child his family moved to western Kansas then central Kansas and by 1930 he was living in Manhattan. Soon, the adventure bug hit and Charles headed out and landed in Tetonia, Id. On October 16, 1940, Charles entered the Army from Idaho and was attached to the 562nd Engineer Boat Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Engineer Special Brigade He moved through the various ranks and became a Technician 4th Grade. The Engineer special brigades were amphibious forces of the United States Army developed during WWII, originally designated Engineer Amphibian Brigades, tasked to assist and enable landings and invasions. During the Battle of Mindanao, Charles Lewis Mills lost his life performing these duties for his Battalion.
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