Pvt. Charles William Speechley was born in Chicago on December 29, 1920, to Charles A. Speechley and Kathryn Walsh-Speechley, and had two sisters. His family resided at 5900 Ridge Avenue, Berkley, Illinois. He graduated from Saint Domitilla School, Hillside, Illinois, and Proviso Township High School in 1939. After high school, he worked at J. D. Patton Company in Chicago.
Charles registered with Selective Service on February 16, 1942, and named his mother as his contact person. On September 2, 1942, in Chicago, he was inducted into the US Army and received the serial number 36 368 699. It is known, in no particular order, that he trained at Camp Wolters, Texas, Camp Howze, Texas, where he volunteered to train as a US Army Ranger, the American counterpart of the British Commandos which formed on April 1, 1943. He then trained at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, Fort Pierce, Florida, and Camp Ritchie, Maryland. As part of their training, the Rangers learned to use German weapons and to speak German. He did have a furlough home in April before he went overseas.
The 2nd Rangers was activated is September 1943 and sent to England. While in Great Britain, the Rangers trained for Operation Overload. During D-Day, his company took part in the assault on Point du Hoc and climbed ladders and ropes to reach the top of the point. Once on the point, they destroyed German guns aimed at Utah Beach.
The 2nd Rangers next took part in the Battle of Brest which was part of the overall Battle of Brittany. The objective was to capture the French ports along the English Channel so that they could be used to bring supplies to the army. he assault started on July 27, 1944, and by August 7th, the Americans had reached Brest. The battle lasted weeks since the German paratroopers were entrenched and refused to surrender. The fighting was house to house. It was on August 31, 1944, that Charles was killed in action.
Charles body was placed in a shroud any buried, on September 2, 1944, in the United States Military Cemetery, St James, France, in Plot H, Row 2, Grave 36. His grave was marked with a wooden cross with one his government issued identification tags attached to it. His other was buried with his body with an identification bottle.
His mother, at some point, received a telegram from the War Department ON September 12, 1944.
MRS CATHERINE SPEECHLEY
5900 RIDGE AVENUE
BERKELEY ILLINOIS
THE SECRETARY OF WAR DESIRES ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEPEST REGRET THAT YOUR SON PRIVATE CHARLES W SPEECHLEY WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON TWO SEPTEMBER IN FRANCE CONFIRMING LETTER FOLLOWS=
ULIO TTHE ADJUTANT GENERAL
On October 1, 1944, at the Village of Berkeley’s honor roll plaque a service was held in is honor. He was the fourth man from the suburb to died in WWII. His parents had a memorial mass for Charles on October 7, 1944, at Mater Dolorsa Seminary, Hillside, Illinois.
His parents did not here from the military until his father, who was his legal next of kin, received a letter from the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC, dated September 16, 1946. In the letter Charles’ father was informed that his son was buried in the US Military Cemetery, St. James, and the location of his grave in the cemetery. He was also informed that he would received another letter providing with information on his son’s final burial.
The next letter, dated July 25, 1947, arrived and informed Charles W. Speechley Sr. of his options for his son’s final burial. He was asked to complete an enclosed and return the form to the OQMG, Washington DC. The completed form was received by the OQMG on September 18, 1947, and indicated that his parents wanted Charles returned to Illinois for burial. On May 20, 1948, Charles’ remains were sent to Casketing Point A, Cherbourg, France, and casketed. His casket, on June 17, 1948, was placed on the USAT Greenville Victory which sailed the same day. The ship arrived in the New York Port of Entry on June 26, 1948. By train, with a military escort, his casket was sent to the Quartermaster Corps’ Distribution Center #8, Chicago and arrived on June 29, 1948.
On August 5th, his casket, with a military escort, was sent to the Suburban Funeral Home, Maywood, Illinois, in a military hearse. On August 7, 1948, Pvt. Charles W. Speechley Jr. was buried in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois, in Section 22, Block 11, Grave 2.
