THE FLAGLER TRIBUNE
Bunnell, Florida
Thursday, October 18, 1945

Death is always tragic.

But it is doubly tragic when one is a soldier and has survived the struggle of war on a foreign soil to return to his native land and meet death accidentally when within five miles of home. That is exactly what happened to a Flagler County Negro soldier Pfc. Willie Wilson last Saturday on Perkins highway nine miles west of Bunnell.

He had arrived in Bunnell a short time before, and driving his brothers car, accompanied by Essa Wilson, Rosa Lee Clark, Mathew Clark and Retha Mae Clark, was on his way home in Orange Hammock when the car was sideswiped by a truck driven by C. H. Howard. Also in the truck with Howard was Manzy Melvin, both of' whom also live in the Orange Hammock section. The truck took the entire left side of the car off, fatally wounding Wilson. The truck did not stop, according to Sheriff Henry Wells who investigated the accident and arrested Howard a few hours later.

Shortly after the accident, Mr. Harold Bowden came along and picked up the Negroes and brought them to Bunnell. Deputy Sheriff M. R. Teters took the soldier to Welch Army Hospital in Daytona Beach where he died shortly after. Others in the car received only slight injuries.

With Sheriff Wells when Howard was picked up here was Deputy Sheriff Buddy McKnight. Shortly after the officers began questioning Howard he admitted hitting the car but claimed he did not believe any damage was done. He has been lodged in the county jail, charged with manslaughter.