World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
James G. Pearson
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Champaign County, Illinois
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY CHARLIE BATTERY, 377TH PARACHUTE FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, ASSIGNED TO THE 502ND PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE WAS A PARATROOPER WHO JUMPED INTO FRANCE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE. KILLED IN ACTION, JUNE 21, 1944 AND IS BURIED AT THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY, COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS. PURPLE HEART AND HIS UNIT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, A NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD AND THE BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.