Arlie L. Eddins is buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium at Plot H, Row 7, Grave 22. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces from Dallas, Texas on May 27th, 1941 at the age of 25. He was six feet tall and weighed 147 pounds. He served with the 1925th Ordnance Ammunition Company, Aviation and attained the rank of Corporal. He died in the service of his country on New Year’s Day, Monday, January 1st, 1945. His death is listed a DNB (died non-battle, line of duty such as sickness or accident).

His date of birth is unconfirmed as June 2nd, 1917 and his military records show only year of birth as 1916. Arlie was born in Shelby County to Rommie Alexander Eddins (1894 - 1926) and Ammie Inez Windham Eddins (1898 – 1997). His parents were married on January 24th, 1915 in Shelby County. His father died in 1926 at the age of 31 and the 1940 census shows Arlie lived on East Hamilton Road with his mother Ammie as head of the house and his sister Bernice is also listed.

After graduation from an unknown school in Shelby County Arlie and his sister Bernice attended college. The list of 1939 – 1940 Teachers Registration in Shelby County shows both Arlie and Bernice as teachers at Shelbyville. Arlie’s annual teaching salary was $700.00. The 1940 census also lists both as teachers and Arlie’s partial military record from the national archives reflects 2 years of college.

His mother remarried Mr. Perry Anderson (1879 – 1968) in 1941 and moved to San Bernardino, California where she passed on March 8th, 1997 at the age of 99. Ammie and Romie are both buried in the West Hamilton Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Arlie’s sister Bernice Nilsen is believed to now live in Phelan, California. I sent her a letter a month ago but have heard nothing back so the circumstances of his death remain a mystery.

Arlie L Eddins