5/27/1943
Sergeant Ira Wiggins was born 10 March 1919 in Altha, Florida. Sergeant Wiggins enlisted in the Army on 12 February 1942 at Camp Blanding, Florida. Upon graduation from Basic Training Sergeant Wiggins attended Bomb Disposal School in Aberdeen, MD. Sergeant Wiggins was assigned to 2nd Bomb Disposal Squad (Separate).
The 2nd Bomb Disposal Squad (Separate) was deployed to North Africa in early 1943 where they conducted several operations with the 1st and 4th Bomb Disposal Squads (Separate) during the Tunisia Campaign. The Tunisia Campaign was a series of battles between the Allied and Axis forces in Northern Africa.
On 26 May 1943, Sergeant Ira Wiggins was working alongside PFC Laurence Paystrup while loading anti-tank rifle gernades, M9A1, onto the back of a truck near Sbeitla, Tunisia. Several fell from the truck and detonated killing Paystrup instantly and injuring Wiggins. SGT Wiggins died of his wounds the following day -27 May 1943- age 24.
Seargent Wiggins is buried in Iron City, Georgia at Olive Grove Primative Baptist Cemetery.