World War II Honoree

James Preston England

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN APRIL, 1944. HIS REGIMENT STAGED AT CAMP MYLES STANDISH AT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS ON NOVEMBER 15, 1944 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE BOSTON PORT OF EMBARKATION ON NOVEMBER 24, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON DECEMBER 4, 1944. LANDED AT LE HAVRE, FRANCE ON JANUARY 11, 1945 AND MOVED TO BELGIUM ON JANUARY 22, 1945 AND LUXEMBOURG ON JANUARY 25, 1945. SERVED IN A HEAVY MORTAR PLATOON AND AS A FORWARD OBSERVER, DRIVER AND SCOUT IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER. ASSIGNED TO THE 417TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 76TH INFANTRY 'ONAWAY' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. TOOK PART IN OPERATIONS TO ATTACK IN THE WEITERBACH-ECHTERNACH, LUXEMBOURG AREA AND AGAINST THE WEST WALL. HIS UNIT CROSSED INTO GERMANY ON MARCH 1, 1945. WOUNDED IN ACTION BY ARTILLERY FIRE WHILE FIGHTING IN GERMANY AND MEDICALLY EVACUATED TO THE STATES FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN JUNE, 1946 AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.