When Henry Kenneth James was born on October 16, 1912, his father, Perry, was 11 and his mother, Eva, was 28. He had one son with Orpha Cathaleen Posey in 1940. He was inducted into the military service March 17th 1942 at Fort Hayes, Ohio. He entered on active duty the same day. His home address was Gassaway, West Virginia. Henry was 29 years old. He served outside the continental limits of the United States from May 28, 1942 to December 5, 1943. He again left the United States for overseas service September 10, 1944 and was killed in action March 24 1945 in Germany while serving as private first class, company L, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. At the time of his death he was a rifleman with his company attacking a wooded area when he was struck by fragments from an enemy shell, causing his instant death. He was buried with appropriate funeral services conducted by a Protestant Chaplain.

Henry received a purple heart for wounds received as a result of enemy action on October 12, 1944 in Aachen area, Germany. Henry’s return home from December 6, 1943 to September 10, 1944 was probably due to his injuries he received on October 12, 1944. He would return to Germany and serve another 6 months before being killed in the line of duty.

Source of information: www.ancestry.com