World War II Honoree

James Esmon Whitfield

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Sweetwater, Texas

Honored By

Louie Max Scott

Relationship

Nephew

ENTERED THE ARMY ON 11/13/42 AND TOOK BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP CLAIBORNE, LOUISIANA. ADVANCED TRAINING WAS AT CAMP HOWZE NEAR GAINESVILLE, TEXAS. AT CAMP SHANKS, NEW YORK HE WAS PART OF THE GROUP THAT FORMED THE 103RD INFANTRY DIVISION, 7TH ARMY. THE DIVISION LANDED AT MARSEILLES, FRANCE ON 10/11/44 AND WAS PLACED INTO COMBAT NEAR FOUCHY, FRANCE ON 11/11/44. IN 5 MONTHS AND 24 DAYS THE 103RD COVERED 700 MILES AND HELPED WITH THE LIBERATION OF DACHAU. SERVED AS A TECHNICAL SERGEANT, E-5, TRUCK DRIVER INFANTRY COMPANY. AWARDS AND MEDALS INCLUDED MARKSMANSHIP MEDALS WITH M-1 RIFE, BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLE, GRENADE LAUNCHER AND .30 CALIBER MACHINE GUN; THREE GOOD CONDUCT MEDALS, AN INFANTRY RIFLE MEDAL AND THE EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL.