Private Charles M. Kackley

Charles M. Kackley

Private Charles Kackley, Private Ernest Ripley, and Private William McMillion were all shot and killed during a two-year battle with striking coal miners, known as the Second Mine War, in which over 50 people were killed.

The strike was finally put down with the help of the United States Army.

Private Kackley and other members of the West Virginia State Police were assisting members of the Kentucky National Guard who had reported shots being fired across the river near Nolan, West Virginia. The Kentucky militia members crossed the river and accompanied the troopers approximately one mile down the road where they encountered four men.

As Private Kackley began to search one of the men shots were fired and he was killed. A member of the Kentucky National Guard was also killed. All four subjects who had been stopped were arrested.

Private Kackley was a United States Army veteran of World War I and was survived by his mother.