US Army PFC Tommie Littles was born in Summerdale, Alabama in October 18, 1919, the son of Charles "Charlie" Littles (1876-1954) and Minnie Lee Lloyd (1902-1973). Tommie's mother would remarry his stepfather Henry Hubert McMillan (1897-1980) in 1930 and set up housekeeping at 2919 West Gonzalez Street. Little is known about Tommie's early life, but we do know that his stepfather supported the family as a laborer in 1935 while living at 516 West LaRua Street. Even then, Tommie was working as a woodcutter at the age of 16. Tommie had attended a school in Summerdale for a while before entering Allie Yniestra grammar school in Pensacola. In 1940, Tommie had moved to 806 North "I" Street while working as a taxicab driver for the Henderson Taxi Company. His stepfather was still working in Civil Service at NAS. Tommie would remain a cab driver for nine years until he entered the US Army during WWII. In the meantime, he would marry Emma Cecelier Bobe (1920-1998) in Milton, Florida on August 4, 1941. She was the daughter of Emmanuel Hudson Bobe (1884-1939) and Emma Beatrice Schambeau (1892-1961). Apparently, the relationship did not work out and the couple split up in 1942 in Pensacola.
After Tommie entered the Army on September 11, 1943 he was sent to Camp Blanding for processing and orientation. He then was transferred to Camp Wheeler, Georgia for basic training. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 318 Infantry Regiment of the 159th Infantry Brigade with the 80th Infantry Division (known as the Blue Ridge Division). During advanced training in May 1944, he was injured when he fell from an unknown height causing some damage to his shoulder and clavicle. After a month, he was released to active duty. After the D-Day landing at Normandy on June 6, 1944, the 318th Regiment was sent overseas to join the fight in Europe. They arrived on July 7, 1944 and entered combat on August 8 with an attack on Argentan, which they captured on August 20. After the area was cleared of enemy troops the division took part in Patton's 3rd Army dash across France, capturing Saint Mihiel, Chalons, and Commercy along the way. They drove the German army back until they were forced to stop for lack of fuel and supplies at the Seille River. Here on September 24, in the Meurth-et-Moselle region near the Seille River, PFC Tommie Littles was killed in action.
His body was turned over to the graves registration company who processed him for burial in a military cemetery. His mother was notified on October 9 that her son had been killed. After the war, she chose to leave him buried with his fallen comrades at Lorraine American Cemetery in France.
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