World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
James M. Padley
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
New Castle County, Delaware
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY FEBRUARY 18, 1943 AT CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY. SERVED AS A RADIO OPERATOR, ASSIGNED TO ABLE COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 116TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 29TH INFANTRY ‘BLUE AND GRAY’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE U.S. 1ST ARMY. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, OPERATION OVERLORD. HIS REGIMENT WAS GIVEN THE OBJECTIVE TO SPEARHEAD THE D-DAY INITIAL ASSAULT AGAINST OMAHA BEACH ON THE FRENCH COAST, GOING ASHORE WITH THE 1ST WAVE, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 AT 06:30 HOURS. KILLED IN ACTION ON THE DAY OF THE INVASION BY DEVASTATING GERMAN ARTILLERY SHELLING AND MACHINE GUN FIRE WHILE EXITING HIS LANDING CRAFT. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO NEW JERSEY FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: HIS REGIMENT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES ON OMAHA BEACH.