Earl Floyd Combs was born on Friday, January 23, 1920 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina to Harvey Roscoe and Genie Johnson Combs. He lived all his pre-war years in the Hunting Creek area of Wilkes County. He married Allie Benge and they had two children. Their first child died as an infant and their second was only two days old when Earl was inducted into the Army on January 23, 1942.
All records have been lost as to Earl's basic training and service in the military but from newspaper articles we have gathered some of his awards and battles. He was with General Courtney H. Hodges First Army throughout his service. From the battlefields of Normandy, he went on to Northern France and from there the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Germany. He served on General Hodges Headquarters Staff before returning home June 3, 1945 for a 30 day leave. He was then to return to prepare for the Pacific Theater against Japan. Because of their surrender on September 2, 1945 aboard the Battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay he didn't have to go.
Earl was discharged from the United States Army on October 26, 1945. His brother, Commie, was discharged the same day and they came home together, returning to the Hunting Creek Community of Wilkes County where he lived the rest of his life. He died on March 26, 2004 and is buried in the Hunting Creek Cemetery beside his wife and two sons.
