World War II Honoree

James Edward Earheart, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Cincinnati, Ohio

Honored By

John Peterson

DURING OPERATION TORCH, THE ALLIED AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS IN NORTH AFRICA, ON 8 NOVEMBER 1942, HE WAS A MEMBER OF A NAVAL ANTI-SABOTAGE PARTY EMBARKED IN A BRITISH WARSHIP WHICH WAS DAMAGED DURING THE ENTRY INTO ORAN, ALGERIA. HEROICALLY, HE VOLUNTEERED, IN THE FACE OF CONTINUOUS VICHY FRENCH SHELLING, TO SWIM TO A HARBOR TUG WHOSE MOVEMENTS WERE ENDANGERING THE MEN ABANDONING THE WARSHIP. HE WAS KILLED IN THIS EFFORT. HE WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR POSTHUMOUSLY FOR HIS ACTIONS AT ORAN. THE U.S. NAVY DESTROYER ESCORT USS EARHEART DE-603 WAS NAMED FOR HIM.