World War II Honoree

James Halbert Gambrell, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

El Paso, Texas

Honored By

Gambrell family

1ST LIEUTENANT U.S. 10TH CAVALRY REGIMENT. AFTER ATTENDING NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE AT 19, TRANSFERRED TO TEXAS A&M COLLEGE AND RECEIVED HIS RESERVE COMMISSION ON MAY 19, 1941. ENTERED THE U.S. ARMY AT FORT RILEY, KANSAS AND TROOP TRAINED TO CAMP LOCKETT, CALIFORNIA NEAR SAN DIEGO JUNE 30, 1942 REPLACING THE 11TH CAVALRY. MOVED TO CAMP PATRICK HENRY, VIRGINIA FEBRUARY 15, 1944 STAGING & DEPARTING FROM HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA ABOARD TRANSPORT SS GENERAL ANDERSON. ARRIVED NORTH AFRICA MARCH 12, 1944 AND TROOP TRAINED TO ORAN, ALGERIA AND WAS DEACTIVATED MARCH 20, 1944. ASSIGNED TO ASSETS AND ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE 6486TH HEAVY CONSTRUCTION BATTALION BUILDING ROADS AND RECREATIONAL FIELDS. TRANSFERRED TO THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN ABOARD TRANSPORT SS DURBAN CASTLE WITH A BATTALION OF 500 AFRICAN SENGALESE AND ARRIVED IN NAPLES, ITALY. ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. 1ST ARMORED DIVISION, 81ST RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION AND ENGAGED GERMAN RESISTANCE PAST THE GUSTAV LINE IN THE APENNINES NEAR FLORENCE. AFTER REORGANIZATION AND REFITTING WITH THE 81ST RECONNAISSANCE, TRANSFERRED TO THE U.S. 7TH ARMY IN EARLY AUGUST 1944. HIS 3RD DIVISION 7TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, COMPANY 'A' INVADED SOUTHERN FRANCE AUGUST 15 IN OPERATION DRAGOON, LANDING NEAR CAVALIER ON RED BEACH. FOUGHT AT AIX, FRANCE, THE RHONE VALLEY AND WOUNDED FROM A BULLET THROUGH HIS NECK AFTER CROSSING THE MOSELLE RIVER. EVACUATED TO FIELD HOSPITAL AND RETURNED TO HIS UNIT 3 WEEKS LATER NOVEMBER 1, 1944 NEAR GRENOBLE, FRANCE. CROSSED THE MUERTHE RIVER AND RECEIVED HIS SECOND PURPLE HEART FROM GERMAN TANK SHRAPNEL TO HIS RIGHT LEG. RETURNED AGAIN TO HIS UNIT AND CROSSED THE FETCH RIVER INTO THE COLMAR POCKET JANUARY 22, 1945. ORDERED A SWEEP FOR MINES AND ENCOUNTERED GERMAN MACHINE GUN CROSSFIRE. AFTER RETURNING FIRE, HE FELL TO THE GROUND SETTING OFF HIDDEN MINE UNDER THE SNOW-COVERED GROUND. CUSHIONED BY THE BLAST AND WOUNDED WAS EVACUATED TO AMERICAN RED CROSS HOSPITAL IN PARIS. AT LE MANS AND CHERBOURG FRANCE BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO MALVERN WELLS, ENGLAND. BOARDED U.S. HOSPITAL SHIP AND SENT TO STARK GENERAL HOSPITAL CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. TROOP TRAINED TO PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA'S TORNEY GENERAL HOSPITAL APRIL 12, 1945. FULL RECOVERY WAS MADE AT BEAUMONT GENERAL HOSPITAL, EL PASO, TEXAS AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED OF ACTIVE ARMY SERVICE APRIL 4, 1947. AWARDS: BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ARROWHEAD AND 4 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, 3 GOLD OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS AND A FRENCH FOURRAGERE(COLOR GREEN). HIS SERIAL NUMBER: 0 416093.