Pence - Charles Wilber
"Six Pence" by Karen Bazzani Zach
I found an article about “Six Pence,” in September of 1918 tagged, “New Richmond” and telling about Lt. Charles W. Pence. In a letter to his parents, stating not to worry as he was sufficiently recovering after being wounded on August 1st, he informed them that he would soon be joining his company in the service of his country. “His many friends are glad to receive the news of Six’s improved condition.”
First of all, I wanted to know how he received the nickname and if it stuck and secondly what happened to him. Did he come back from WWI? Stay in the area or just what happened to the Pence with the odd nickname?
Boyd McNeil, age 90, and I talked about Six and he easily knew what happened to him. Wait ‘til ya’ hear! We both thought perhaps he was the sixth in his family but that certainly didn’t pan out so I am just assuming it comes from the ancient coin, a six pence, which can be found dating back centuries in songs, stories, jokes and even in Shakespeare’s tales.
So, we know that Pence was in WWI. On his registration, he is noted to be of medium height, medium build, having blue eyes and light hair. Curious to know if he did indeed return from that war, Boyd knew the basics of what happened to him so listen up, as Six was also in WWII, and in part of the Korean conflict, as well. He went up through the ranks and when he retired in November of 1952, was a Brigadier General.
I remember seeing the movie, Go For Broke, years ago. Never would I have guessed that it was about a Montgomery County legend who commanded one of the most unique units during that war. At age 50, Pence lead the way in one of the biggest battles of the war at Bruyeres, France which was surrounded by several hills, tough to take and even harder to keep, but his group owned a special kind of strength. In the battle and one of the worst that his unit, the 100th of the 442nd in April 1945, Pence was again wounded.
In various reports, it is said that Pence was not real thrilled on becoming assigned the command of the 442nd, but he soon came to know, love and beyond admire this man, most Japanese-Americans who came from the camps. The men were required to fill-out a questionnaire upon application for the unit, and particularly despised the question to “swear your unqualifed allegiance to the US and defend it against all foreign attacks especially from the Japanese Emperor.” The man never had any allegiance to any country but the US and despise what the “emperor” of Japan was doing. They were ready to show him the what-for, and that they did.
By the time the war ended, the 422nd received over 18,000 individual Decorations, including 9,486 Purple Hearts and 8,200 Bronze Stars. An amazing group who lost 650 men killed in action, 3,700 plus wounded, another 67 missing especially during the Rome-Arno Campaign and Rhineland Campaign. Pence is in the Military Hall of Fame and received the Distinquished Service Medal “in duty of great responsibility during February 1943 – November 1944,” while a colonel.
He attended DePauw University, taught military tactics at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and upon retirement from there, became president of the National Bank at Ft. Benning. He passed away on October 8, in 1961 and is buried at Ft. Benning in Section C-4 his beloved wife of many years next to him.
Definitely, I want to rewatch that movie, and do more research, but wanted to let you all know about this wonderful Montgomery Countian going off into the world to make a connection!
(note: photo and information taken from the pamphlet online titled, “442nd Organization!”)
