Cecil L. Wells is the son of Mr. Taylor And Mrs. Gussia Wells of Edwardsville, IL. Cecil attendes local public schools and graduated from Edwardsville High School Class of 1934. He immediately enrolled in the Universiy of Illinois and in 1937 entered the Army Air Corps. He was stationed at Kelly Field for his basic training and then Langley Field, Virginia, where he received his commission on August 15, 1938 as a second lieutenant. While at Langley, he married Ms. Dorothy Louise Salisbury on December 6, 1939. In January of 1940, 2nd Lieutenant Wells was sent to Puerto Rico. Captain Wells was then transferred to Richmond, Virginia and promoted to Major and commanding officer of the 358th Fighter Group. He was then sent to England and then France as Colonel Cecil L. Wells in October, 1943. While serving as the commanding officer of the 358th Fighter Group in the European theater he was awarded two Presidential Group Citations, the Silver Star, the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Belgian Croix de Guerre with one Cluster and the Purple Heart. Colonel Cecil L. Wells was killed in action in Europe. Funeral serviceswere held at Lesley Marks Funeral Home in Edwardsville and burial with full military honors, provided by the Edwardsville American Legion, at Valley View Cemetery. Colonel Cecil L. Wells is survived by his parents, his wife and daughter, Martha Ann, and a brother, Norman Wells and is buried in Valley View Cemetery in Edwardsville. He was 27 years, 6 months and 27 days of age.
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