James Earl “Buck” Purcell was born on January 20, 1901. He was married to Louise Purcell McLelland Reese. He graduated from West Point in 1924 and began his career at Fort McPherson, Georgia. He went on to serve at Panama, Fort Meade, Fort Benning, and Fort Sam Houston, excelling as both a company commander and staff officer. He commanded infantry companies during the Dallas Centennial, completed the Company Officers Course at Fort Benning, and later trained with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Tennessee. He also attended the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth before receiving overseas assignments.

In 1940, Purcell was sent to the Philippines, where he commanded a company of the 57th Infantry (Philippine Scouts) in Bataan, showing leadership by improving camp conditions for his men. His final assignment was as an assistant G4 to Colonel Charles Willoughby. On January 6, 1942, during heavy shelling in the Philippines, Purcell was killed. LTC Purcell is now buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.honorstates.org, West Point Association of Graduates