Charles Modeste Decamps (1914 - 1991)

Born 30 Jul 1914 in Arlington, Virginia, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

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Biography

Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Modeste DeCamps was born on 30th July 1914. He was the second son of the college football star and war veteran Lt. Christie Jean-Baptiste Decamps (1878 - 24 August 1951) and Lois Catherine Sykes (1881-1924). ^[1]

His mother Lois Sykes died on 8 April 1924, when Charles was just 10 years old.

After their mothers' death, the three children - Luke, Lois and Charles DeCamps, went to live with their Aunt Zoe (Sykes) Weldon, known as "Miz G", at her family farm, known as Ballahack Farm, at Ballahack, Dismal Swamp, Virginia. [1]

Charles married Lilian Lorraine Seward sometime before the war. ^[2] They had two children:

• Alice DeCamps, born about 1941, who lives in Richmond, Virginia. ^[3]
• C. Michael DeCamps, who became a lawyer in Richmond, Virginia. ^{[2] [3]}

Charles DeCamps graduated from Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Virginia in 1932, aged 18. ^[3] In 1936 he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. ^[3]

Charles served in the US Army during WW2 in Italy, eventually finding himself Berlin where he met his brother William Luke DeCamps, who had landed at Normandy on DDay. ^[2]

Charles DeCamps was awarded a Bronze Star by General Mark Clark for Logistical Support to the Replacement and Training Command, MTOUSA. ^[3]

In the official citation for his Bronze Star, DeCamps was commended for his "meritorious achievement in connection with military operations in North Africa and Italy from 6 June 1944 through 8 May 1945...his leadership and attention to duties were outstanding". ^[4]

After the war, DeCamps continued to be associated with the Quarter Master Corps of the US Army as a civilian employee. ^[3]

Charles DeCamps died on 23 May 1991. ^[1] A graveside service with military honours took place on May 29th at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} DeCamps family bible
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2}
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} Washington Post Obituary May 1991
4. ↑ Official citation for Bronze Star

• DeCamps Family Bible, courtesy of Jeanne DeCamps