Explore/Veterans/World War II/Fred H. Shackleford

Veteran

Fred H. Shackleford

Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford of Berryville, who went into the army with the National Guard in February 1941, died in France on August 10, 1944, the Clarke Courier reported. The paper first reported him killed, presumably in action, and then, from a later wire, accidentally shot by a captured German sub-machine gun held by a companion. The War Department's 1946 list, as the paper printed it, counts him under "Died (Non-battle)," and his body was brought home to Berryville in October 1948.

World War II as the cited records state it

Also written: Fred Howard Shackleford. Each name is shown as a source gives it.

All veterans of Clarke County · How to read these pages

11 records cited
9 statements
1 image shown

Is this the same man?

IDENTITY Confirmed Each item names the same soldier, a son of Mrs. Mervin Shackleford of Berryville.

What distinguishes him: Every item names Fred H. (or Fred, or Fred Howard) Shackleford, son of Mrs. Mervin Shackleford of Berryville; the paper prints her name once as "Mrs. Melvin Shackleford."

Clarke connection: Family residence and return in newspaper reports: the Courier of November 16, 1944 names his mother as Mrs. Mervin Shackleford of Berryville (C1548), and its issue of October 21, 1948 reports his body brought home to Berryville (C1553).

This page rests on one record.

Evidence depth: Recorded

Service summary

Only the fields a record supplies, in the record's own words. The full statement is under What the records say.

Service summary
Field	As the record prints it	Source	RECORD	IDENTITY
War	World War II	Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action"; Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 20: "Pvt. Shackleford" (continued from page 1) The statement	RECORD Likely	IDENTITY Confirmed
Rank	Pvt.	Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action"; Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 20: "Pvt. Shackleford" (continued from page 1) The statement	RECORD Likely	IDENTITY Confirmed
Unit	Company I, 116th Infantry, 29th Division	Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., October 21, 1948, page 1: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford To Be Re-Interred" The statement	RECORD Likely	IDENTITY Confirmed

What the records say

Each line is a statement from a cited source, in the source's own terms, with the three questions asked of it. Same man as the one on this page?

What the records say
When	What the record shows	RECORD	IDENTITY	Source
Date not established	The Clarke Courier of September 10, 1942 reported that Mrs. Mervin Shackleford had word from her youngest son, Pfc. Fred H. Shackleford, that he was out of the hospital, where he had been since February, but had to report there every morning for treatment to his injured knee.	RECORD Likely	IDENTITY ConfirmedNames Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford, son of Mrs. Mervin Shackleford.	Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 10, 1942, page 16: local item on Pfc. Fred H. Shackleford See the source and its limits ✓ LikelyAn account exists The Clarke Courier of September 10, 1942 reported that Mrs. Mervin Shackleford had word from her youngest son, Pfc. Fred H. Shackleford, that he was out of the hospital, where he had been since February, but had to report there every morning for treatment to his injured knee. What the source supports That the paper reported him in the hospital with an injured knee in 1942. Uncertainty A local news item from his family's word. Read on the page image of the Library of Congress digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim. Source Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 16, local item on Pfc. Fred H. Shackleford. Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 10, 1942, page 16: local item on Pfc. Fred H. Shackleford Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1942-09-10 (publication) Locator: Page 16, local item on Pfc. Fred H. Shackleford Relevant passage Mrs. Mervin Shackleford has received word from her youngest son, Pfc. Fred H. Shackleford, that he is now out of the hospital but has to report there every morning for treatment to his injured knee. He has been in the hospital since February Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Date not established	The Clarke Courier of August 31, 1944 reported that the War Department had wired the mother of Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford that he had died on August 10, "presumably in action in France," but that the wire "did not state that he was killed in action"; it was assumed so because he had written his mother that day. "If Pvt. Shackleford was killed in action," the paper said, it was the first such casualty of any Clarke County soldier. It said he went into the army with the National Guard in February 1941, at 16, was 21 at his death, and had been in England from September 1942 until the invasion of France.	RECORD Likely	IDENTITY ConfirmedThis is the item the entity was created from.	Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action" Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 20: "Pvt. Shackleford" (continued from page 1) See the source and its limits ✓ LikelyAn account exists The Clarke Courier of August 31, 1944 reported that the War Department had wired the mother of Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford that he had died on August 10, "presumably in action in France," but that the wire "did not state that he was killed in action"; it was assumed so because he had written his mother that day. "If Pvt. Shackleford was killed in action," the paper said, it was the first such casualty of any Clarke County soldier. It said he went into the army with the National Guard in February 1941, at 16, was 21 at his death, and had been in England from September 1942 until the invasion of France. What the source supports That the paper first reported his death as presumably in action. Uncertainty The paper's report of a telegram that was not seen; the paper itself says the wire did not state he was killed in action. Read on the page image of the Library of Congress digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim. Source Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action," the headline, opening and photograph. Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action" Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1944-08-31 (publication) Locator: Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action," the headline, opening and photograph Relevant passage Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action [...] The death of Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford, son of Mrs. Melvin Shackleford and the late Mr. Shackleford, presumably in action in France, was reported on Sunday by the War Department who wired the soldier's mother. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses. Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action". Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action" Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1944-08-31 (publication) Locator: Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action" Relevant passage His death occurred August 10, the wire stated, but it did not state that he was killed in action. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses. Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action". Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action" Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1944-08-31 (publication) Locator: Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action" Relevant passage If Pvt. Shackleford was killed in action, is [sic] the first such casualty suffered by any Clarke county soldier, it is believed. Several soldiers from the county have been killed or died, but none have been killed in action. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses. Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action". Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action" Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1944-08-31 (publication) Locator: Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action" Relevant passage Pvt. Shackleford was inducted into the army when the National Guard was mustered into service in February of 1941. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses. Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 20, "Pvt. Shackleford" (continued from page 1). Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 20: "Pvt. Shackleford" (continued from page 1) Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1944-08-31 (publication) Locator: Page 20, "Pvt. Shackleford" (continued from page 1) Relevant passage of 16 years, and was 21 years old at his death. [...] He left this country September 26, 1942 and was stationed in England until the invasion of France. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Date not established	The Clarke Courier of September 7, 1944, under the headline "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot," reported that according to a wire his mother, Mrs. Mervin Shackleford, received on Monday, he "was accidentally shot"; that it had been assumed he was killed in action because he had written his mother the day of his death, August 10; and that he had gone in with the National Guard in February 1941 "at the age of 16."	RECORD Likely	IDENTITY ConfirmedNames Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford, son of Mrs. Mervin Shackleford.	Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 7, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot" See the source and its limits ✓ LikelyAn account exists The Clarke Courier of September 7, 1944, under the headline "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot," reported that according to a wire his mother, Mrs. Mervin Shackleford, received on Monday, he "was accidentally shot"; that it had been assumed he was killed in action because he had written his mother the day of his death, August 10; and that he had gone in with the National Guard in February 1941 "at the age of 16." What the source supports That a week later the paper reported, from a second wire, that he had been accidentally shot. Uncertainty The paper's report of a wire that was not seen. Read on the page image of the Library of Congress digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim. Source Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot". Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 7, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot" Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1944-09-07 (publication) Locator: Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot" Relevant passage Pvt. Fred Shackleford, whose death was reported last week in France, was accidentally shot, according tb [sic] a wire received by his mother, Mrs. Mervin Shackleford on Monday. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses. Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot". Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 7, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot" Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1944-09-07 (publication) Locator: Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot" Relevant passage It was assumed that he had been killed in action, as he had written his mother the same day his death was reported, which was August 10. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses. Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot". Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 7, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot" Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1944-09-07 (publication) Locator: Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot" Relevant passage Pvt. Shackleford was inducted with the National Guard in February, 1941 at the age of 16. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Date not established	The Clarke Courier of November 16, 1944 reported that Pvt. Fred Shackleford, "killed accidentally in France on August 10," died of 18 bullet wounds in his chest from a captured German sub-machine gun held by a companion of his outfit, which was discharged accidentally while a group of his unit was examining it, as his mother, Mrs. Mervin Shackleford of Berryville, had been told. It said he was with the 29th Division.	RECORD Likely	IDENTITY ConfirmedNames Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford, son of Mrs. Mervin Shackleford.	Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 16, 1944, page 1: "Sergt. Ralph Pope Prisoner In Japan" See the source and its limits ✓ LikelyAn account exists The Clarke Courier of November 16, 1944 reported that Pvt. Fred Shackleford, "killed accidentally in France on August 10," died of 18 bullet wounds in his chest from a captured German sub-machine gun held by a companion of his outfit, which was discharged accidentally while a group of his unit was examining it, as his mother, Mrs. Mervin Shackleford of Berryville, had been told. It said he was with the 29th Division. What the source supports How the paper reported his death in November 1944. Uncertainty The paper's account of a report his mother received, which was not seen. Read on the page image of the Library of Congress digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim. Source Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Dies Of 18 Bullet Wounds". Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 16, 1944, page 1: "Sergt. Ralph Pope Prisoner In Japan" Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1944-11-16 (publication) Locator: Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Dies Of 18 Bullet Wounds" Relevant passage Pvt. Fred Shackleford, who was killed accidentally in France on August 10, died as a result of 18 bullet wounds in his chest from a captured German sub-machine gun held by a companion of his outfit. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses. Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Dies Of 18 Bullet Wounds". Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 16, 1944, page 1: "Sergt. Ralph Pope Prisoner In Japan" Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1944-11-16 (publication) Locator: Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Dies Of 18 Bullet Wounds" Relevant passage It was while a group of his unit was examining the sub-machine gun when it was discharged accidentally. He was with the 29th Division. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Date not established	The "One Year Ago" column of the Clarke Courier of August 30, 1945 says: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford is killed in action in France."	RECORD Likely	IDENTITY ConfirmedNames Pvt. Fred Shackleford, a year after the paper's reports of his death.	Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 30, 1945, page 10: "One Year Ago" column See the source and its limits ✓ LikelyAn account exists The "One Year Ago" column of the Clarke Courier of August 30, 1945 says: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford is killed in action in France." What the source supports That the paper's look-back column of August 1945 says he was killed in action. Uncertainty A one-line note a year later; the column of the next week says he was accidentally killed. Read on the page image of the Library of Congress digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim. Source Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 10, "One Year Ago" column. Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 30, 1945, page 10: "One Year Ago" column Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1945-08-30 (publication) Locator: Page 10, "One Year Ago" column Relevant passage ONE YEAR AGO [...] Pvt. Fred Shackleford is killed in action in France. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Date not established	The "One Year Ago" column of the Clarke Courier of September 6, 1945 says: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford is accidentally killed in France while examining a captured German gun."	RECORD Likely	IDENTITY ConfirmedNames Pvt. Fred Shackleford, a year after the paper's reports of his death.	Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 6, 1945, page 11: "One Year Ago" column See the source and its limits ✓ LikelyAn account exists The "One Year Ago" column of the Clarke Courier of September 6, 1945 says: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford is accidentally killed in France while examining a captured German gun." What the source supports That the paper's look-back column of September 1945 says he was accidentally killed. Uncertainty A one-line note a year later; the column of the week before says he was killed in action. Read on the page image of the Library of Congress digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim. Source Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 11, "One Year Ago" column. Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 6, 1945, page 11: "One Year Ago" column Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1945-09-06 (publication) Locator: Page 11, "One Year Ago" column Relevant passage ONE YEAR AGO [...] Pvt. Fred Shackleford is accidentally killed in France while examining a captured German gun. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Date not established	The Clarke Courier of June 27, 1946 reported a War Department honor list of the dead and missing of World War II, "showing that Clarke county lost 26 men during the war," under the headline "Report Of War Department Lists 9 Killed In Action And 11 Died In Non-Action." The list as the paper printed it names Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford under "Died (Non-battle)."	RECORD Likely	IDENTITY ConfirmedNames Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford in the War Department's list for Clarke County as the paper printed it.	Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 27, 1946, page 1: "Report Of War Department Lists 9 Killed In Action And 11 Died In Non-Action" Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 27, 1946, page 16: "26 County Men" (continued from page 1) See the source and its limits ✓ LikelyAn account exists The Clarke Courier of June 27, 1946 reported a War Department honor list of the dead and missing of World War II, "showing that Clarke county lost 26 men during the war," under the headline "Report Of War Department Lists 9 Killed In Action And 11 Died In Non-Action." The list as the paper printed it names Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford under "Died (Non-battle)." What the source supports That the War Department's 1946 list, as the paper printed it, counts him among those who died in non-battle. Uncertainty The paper says the list was preliminary and might contain errors; the list itself was not seen. Read on the page image of the Library of Congress digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim. Source Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 1, "Report Of War Department Lists 9 Killed In Action And 11 Died In Non-Action". Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 27, 1946, page 1: "Report Of War Department Lists 9 Killed In Action And 11 Died In Non-Action" Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1946-06-27 (publication) Locator: Page 1, "Report Of War Department Lists 9 Killed In Action And 11 Died In Non-Action" Relevant passage Report Of War Department Lists 9 Killed In Action And 11 Died In Non-Action The War Department has released a list today of the honor list of dead and missing of World War II, showing that Clarke county lost 26 men during the war. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses. Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 16, "26 County Men" (continued from page 1). Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 27, 1946, page 16: "26 County Men" (continued from page 1) Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1946-06-27 (publication) Locator: Page 16, "26 County Men" (continued from page 1) Relevant passage Died (Non-battle), 11 [...] Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford, and Pvt. Clifton P. Zombro. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Date not established	The "Three Years Ago" column of the Clarke Courier of August 28, 1947 says: "Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford dies of wounds in France."	RECORD Likely	IDENTITY ConfirmedNames Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford, three years after the paper's reports of his death.	Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 28, 1947, page 13: "Three Years Ago" column See the source and its limits ✓ LikelyAn account exists The "Three Years Ago" column of the Clarke Courier of August 28, 1947 says: "Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford dies of wounds in France." What the source supports That the paper's look-back column of 1947 says he died of wounds. Uncertainty A one-line note three years later. Read on the page image of the Library of Congress digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim. Source Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 13, "Three Years Ago" column. Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 28, 1947, page 13: "Three Years Ago" column Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1947-08-28 (publication) Locator: Page 13, "Three Years Ago" column Relevant passage THREE YEARS AGO [...] Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford dies of wounds in France. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Date not established	The Clarke Courier of October 21, 1948 reported that the body of Pvt. Fred Howard Shackleford would arrive in Berryville the next day, for funeral services from his late home on Sunday afternoon. It said he "was killed August 10, 1944, 14 miles south of St. Lo, France," that he "was accidentally shot while examining captured machine guns," that he entered the army with Company I, 116th Infantry, 29th Division, and that he was born May 4, 1923.	RECORD Likely	IDENTITY ConfirmedNames Pvt. Fred Howard Shackleford, brought home to Berryville.	Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., October 21, 1948, page 1: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford To Be Re-Interred" See the source and its limits ✓ LikelyAn account exists The Clarke Courier of October 21, 1948 reported that the body of Pvt. Fred Howard Shackleford would arrive in Berryville the next day, for funeral services from his late home on Sunday afternoon. It said he "was killed August 10, 1944, 14 miles south of St. Lo, France," that he "was accidentally shot while examining captured machine guns," that he entered the army with Company I, 116th Infantry, 29th Division, and that he was born May 4, 1923. What the source supports That his body was brought home to Berryville in October 1948, and what the paper then said of his death. Uncertainty A report written before the funeral. Its birth date makes him 17, not 16, when the National Guard was mustered in February 1941. Read on the page image of the Library of Congress digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim. Source Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford To Be Re-Interred". Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., October 21, 1948, page 1: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford To Be Re-Interred" Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1948-10-21 (publication) Locator: Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford To Be Re-Interred" Relevant passage The body of Pvt. Fred Howard Shackleford will arrive in Berryville tomorrow for funeral services to be conducted Sunday afternoon from his late home in Berryville. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses. Reporting Evidence role: supports. Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford To Be Re-Interred". Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., October 21, 1948, page 1: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford To Be Re-Interred" Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1948-10-21 (publication) Locator: Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford To Be Re-Interred" Relevant passage Pvt. Shackleford was killed August 10, 1944, 14 miles south of St. Lo, France. He was accidentally shot while examining captured machine guns. He entered the army with Company I, 116th Infantry, 29th Division. He was born May 4, 1923. Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled. Open source Source family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.

Grave and burial

The register records Fred H. Shackleford, 1923–1944, buried at Green Hill Cemetery, Berryville, Clarke County, Virginia.

Burial place: Green Hill Cemetery, Berryville, Clarke County, Virginia; section H, lot 707
Marker: A marker stands at this grave, as the register records it.
Register note: “US Army WW II-KIA; s/Mervin H. Shackleford” The compiler’s wording, not read from the stone here.

From the Green Hill burial register, compiled by Donald R. and Mary L. Royston, as of 6 May 2021, page 146, row 21. See the register row.

RECORD Likely What the register records, not a check that it is right.

IDENTITY Likely The register row has the same surname and given name as the roll entry and the same lot, and the birth years agree; no second record has been read that ties this grave to the service.

Evidence gallery

Each image is the document itself, cropped from a saved original, and is shown only after a check by a reader who did not choose it found that it supports the passage it is cited for. Open one to read it closely.

August 1944: the Courier's photograph of Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford, reported killed "presumably in action in France."
What this image does and does not showA photograph printed in the newspaper without a caption, inside the report of his death; the paper does not say when or by whom it was taken.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), August 31, 1944, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: Cropped from the Library of Congress page image to the headline, opening and photograph of this item: 943 by 2591 pixels, shown at its own 943 by 2591 pixels; re-encoded as JPEG. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action" Open the full image
What this image is evidence for
Passage it reproduces: Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action," the headline, opening and photograph
Statements on this site that rest on it:
The Clarke Courier of August 31, 1944 reported that the War Department had wired the mother of Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford that he had died on August 10, "presumably in action in France," but that the wire "did not state that he was killed in action"; it was assumed so because he had written his mother that day. "If Pvt. Shackleford was killed in action," the paper said, it was the first such casualty of any Clarke County soldier. It said he went into the army with the National Guard in February 1941, at 16, was 21 at his death, and had been in England from September 1942 until the invasion of France.
People namedFred H. Shackleford
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 1.
Typed transcription
Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action [...] The death of Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford, son of Mrs. Melvin Shackleford and the late Mr. Shackleford, presumably in action in France, was reported on Sunday by the War Department who wired the soldier's mother.
Source
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action", Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va.
Date as printed
1944-08-31 (published)
Passage
Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action," the headline, opening and photograph
What it supports
The Clarke Courier of August 31, 1944 reported that the War Department had wired the mother of Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford that he had died on August 10, "presumably in action in France," but that the wire "did not state that he was killed in action"; it was assumed so because he had written his mother that day. "If Pvt. Shackleford was killed in action," the paper said, it was the first such casualty of any Clarke County soldier. It said he went into the army with the National Guard in February 1941, at 16, was 21 at his death, and had been in England from September 1942 until the invasion of France.
Treatment
Shown whole, as saved; no retouch, no highlight.
RECORD Likely IDENTITY Confirmed
This is the item the entity was created from.
See the original Read the full newspaper page at the Library of Congress

Cited, with no image here

Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 16, 1944, page 1: "Sergt. Ralph Pope Prisoner In Japan", Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Dies Of 18 Bullet Wounds". The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., November 16, 1944, page 1: "Sergt. Ralph Pope Prisoner In Japan", Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Dies Of 18 Bullet Wounds". The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 10, 1942, page 16: local item on Pfc. Fred H. Shackleford, Page 16, local item on Pfc. Fred H. Shackleford. The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action", Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action". The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action", Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action". The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action", Page 1, "Pvt. Shackleford Reported Killed In French Action". The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 31, 1944, page 20: "Pvt. Shackleford" (continued from page 1), Page 20, "Pvt. Shackleford" (continued from page 1). The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 7, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot", Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot". The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 7, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot", Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot". The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 7, 1944, page 1: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot", Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford Accidently Shot". The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 30, 1945, page 10: "One Year Ago" column, Page 10, "One Year Ago" column. The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 6, 1945, page 11: "One Year Ago" column, Page 11, "One Year Ago" column. The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 27, 1946, page 1: "Report Of War Department Lists 9 Killed In Action And 11 Died In Non-Action", Page 1, "Report Of War Department Lists 9 Killed In Action And 11 Died In Non-Action". The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 27, 1946, page 16: "26 County Men" (continued from page 1), Page 16, "26 County Men" (continued from page 1). The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 28, 1947, page 13: "Three Years Ago" column, Page 13, "Three Years Ago" column. The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., October 21, 1948, page 1: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford To Be Re-Interred", Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford To Be Re-Interred". The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., October 21, 1948, page 1: "Pvt. Fred Shackleford To Be Re-Interred", Page 1, "Pvt. Fred Shackleford To Be Re-Interred". The page was read on its image; no crop of it is shown yet.

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The Courier reported Pvt. Fred H. Shackleford killed in action and then accidentally shot in France on August 10, 1944. Does a letter from his unit or an Army report survive that says how he died? Tell us

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