While walking past a large obelisk grave stone in the Masonic Cemetery In Pocahontas, an inscription not only caught our eye but peaked our interest.
Charles C. Meeks, born 1893 died 1919 was marked on the stone but the more interesting part was where it stated “killed in an aeroplane accident in the service of his country.”
Since the Wright Brothers first flight was December 17, 1903 and the first military flight was dated to 1910, this was the considered the infancy of flight.
Charles Culp Meeks although born in Mammoth Spring Arkansas on January 24, 1893 was native to Randolph County Arkansas. Meeks was the only son of former 16th District Judge John Wilson Meeks and Mary Tucker Meeks.
Charles C. Meeks was a graduate of the Tennessee Military Institute of Clearwater Tennessee.
Charles Culp Meeks volunteered for the United States Army Air Service during World War I and was assigned to the newly formed 258th Aero Squadron in France. After the 1918 Armistice with Germany the squadron was assigned to the United States Third Army as a part of the occupation of Rhineland in Germany.
Lt. Meeks attended 2nd Corps Aeronautical School from mid-October to mid-November 1918, Meeks was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and was listed as C.O. (Commanding Officer) after the unit was ordered north to the area near Metz France.
Lt. Meeks, an observer, and his pilot Lt. Thomas Kiernan were both killed when their Salmson #4 aeroplane crashed on March 8th 1919 killing Lt. Kiernan instantly with Lt. Meeks lingering for two hours before passing away.
Charles Culp Meeks was originally buried in Rimancourt Haute Marm in France.
Meek’s remains were later moved back to the United Stated and were interned in the Masonic Cemetery In Pocahontas in May.
Newspaper accounts of the reinterment say it was the “largest crowd ever to assemble in the Masonic Cemetery of Pocahontas”. Businesses closed on the eve of the arrival of Lt. Meeks and remained closed during the services.
Charles Culp Meeks died at the young age of 26, the Veterans Memorial at the Randolph County Court House says it best “These Gave All”.
