World War II Honoree

James O. Nichols

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Craighead, Arkansas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY OCTOBER 23, 1942 AT LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE 175TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 29TH INFANTRY ‘BLUE AND GRAY’ DIVISION, U.S. 1ST ARMY. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD. WHILE EMBARKING FROM HIS LANDING CRAFT ASSAULT ‘LCA’, HE WENT ASHORE ON OMAHA BEACH. KILLED IN ACTION TUESDAY, JULY 18, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE OF ST. LO, FRANCE AND IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL WAS AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY.