World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
James Jay Near
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Lincoln Park, Michigan
Honored By
Family
SERVED WITH 554TH ENGINEER HEAVY PONTOON BATTALION, DEPLOYED AHEAD OF ADVANCING INFANTRY AND ARMOR. CONSTRUCTED PONTOON BRIDGES ACROSS RIVERS THROUGHOUT FRANCE, BELGIUM, THE NETHERLANDS, LUXEMBOURG AND GERMANY INCLUDING THE ROER, RHINE, WESER AND ELBE RIVERS. PARTICIPATED IN LIBERATION OF CONCENTRATION CAMP AT GARDELEGEN, GERMANY.