Burt E. Dockins

Pvt. Burt E. Dockins at Fort Benning, GA 01 Feb 1942

NAME: Burt Edge Dockins

ASN: 34094078

PLACE OF BIRTH: ???, GA

DATE OF BIRTH: ?? ??? 1915

DATES OF SERVICE: 27 Jun 1941 to ?

UNIT ASSIGNED:

C Co. 504th PB

F Co. 2nd Bn. 503rd PIR

F Co. 2nd Bn. 509th PIR

CAMPAIGNS: Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Naples-Foggia

AWARDS: Parachutist Badge with two combat jump stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead device and two campaign stars, 3rd French Zouaves Regiment Badge

SUMMARY OF SERVICE:

27 Jun 1941 - Enlisted at Fort Jackson, SC - NARA - Enlistment Record

Field Title	Value	Meaning
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER	34094078	34094078
NAME	DOCKINS#BURT#E##########	DOCKINS#BURT#E##########
RESIDENCE: STATE	47	SOUTH CAROLINA
RESIDENCE: COUNTY	073	OCONEE
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT	4715	FT JACKSON COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA
DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY	27	27
DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH	06	06
DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR	41	41
GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION	PVT#	Private
GRADE: CODE	8	Private
BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION	BI#	Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
BRANCH: CODE	00	Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
FIELD USE AS DESIRED	#	#
TERM OF ENLISTMENT	0	Undefined Code
LONGEVITY	###	###
SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL	0	Civil Life
NATIVITY	43	GEORGIA
YEAR OF BIRTH	15	15
RACE AND CITIZENSHIP	1	White, citizen
EDUCATION	0	Grammar school
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION	316	Farm hands, general farms
MARITAL STATUS	1	Single, with dependents
COMPONENT OF THE ARMY	7	Selectees (Enlisted Men)
CARD NUMBER	#	#
BOX NUMBER	0752	0752
FILM REEL NUMBER	1.269	1.269

25 Dec 1941 - Pvt. Burt Dockins 34094078 C Co, 504th PB attended Christmas Dinner

01 Feb 1942 - Pvt. Bert E. Dockins 34094078 C Co, 504th PB Fair Play, SC

08 Nov 1942 - Pvt. Bert E. Dockins 34094078 F Co, 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Fair Play, SC. Participated in Operation VILLAIN (TORCH) the airborne invasion of Oran, North Africa Plane: 5 Seat: 6 Combat Weight: 273 lbs.

C-47 41-7806, Formation #34, D FLIGHT Plane 5, F CO CHALK 5

AIRCREW

PC: Capt. Stracener

CP: Lt. L. N. Pinkston

N: Lt. V. R. Pettigrew

R: Unknown

CE: Unknown

PARATROOPERS

1. 2nd Lt. Fred E. Perry O-395326 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR Dayton OH 242

2. Pvt. Michael Sembrat 32135740 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR Syracuse NY 243

3. Pvt. Lester L. Moore 35209893 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR New Martinsville WV 269

4. T4 Donald L. Sutton 36159286 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR North Adams Mich 242

5. Pfc. Harold H. Murren 37007994 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR St. Joseph MO 261

6. Pvt. Bert E. Dockins 34094078 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR Fair Play SC 273

7. Sgt. Frank Pflugler 33077758 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR Northhampton PA 221

8. Pvt. William D. Cross 34104803 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR Birmingham AL 252

9. Pvt. Charles E. Parten 34107213 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR Selma AL 250

10. Pvt. James M. Broadway 34142993 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR Pope TN 272

11. Pvt. William I. Eckroth 6945098 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR Harrisburg PA 239

12. Pvt. Carmine J. Manente 31048564 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR Hartford CT 229

13. Sgt. Harold C. (O.) Graff 34078495 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR New Orleans LA 240

14. ? George Olesh Jr. 33111596 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR Allentown PA 265

Total Weight: 3499

Equipment Bundle Weight: 250

Special Equipment: 271

Total Tactical Weight: 4020

Pilot Captain Stracener remarks: Predannack, England we would leave at 22:30hrs on 07 Nov 1942. At approximately 06:30hrs of November 8th 1942, we crossed the north coast of Africa, over Melilla, Spanish Morocco. While I flew around trying to locate myself, (because at this hour it was not daylight), I could hear other ships talking to one another. I tried to take a homing bearing on my Squadron Commander, but was not successful. Later after I had located myself I flew inland about twenty miles to continue my flight to Tafaraoui near Oran. Just south of Mellila I ran across Capt Worley a member of the 60th Troop Carrier Group. He seemed not sure of his position and because he was almost out of gas, he told me he was going to land. He landed near Sarazit south of Mellila. I landed by his ship to help if I could. We discussed the possibilities of dividing my gasoline or taking the whole of his load of parachute troopers. None of these seemed quite favorable so I left him (and all the paratroopers) promising to return as soon as I possibly could with gasoline so that they could fly out. The paratroopers were later interned by the Spanish Moroccan authorities then released about a month later.

14 Sep 1943 - Pfc. Burt E. Dockins 34094078 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Participated in Operation GIANT III the airborne invasion of Avellino, Italy

PFC Burt E. Dockins 34094078 Fair Play, SC. Listed as KIA date unknown. Page 387 Book: Stand in the Door by Charles H. Doyle and Terrell Stewart

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