James H. Roberts
Pvt. James Henry Roberts
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Roberts
KIA D-Day June 6, 1944
Enlisted: March 5, 1942 US Army
Trained: Ft. Thomas, Ky.; Camp Pickett, Va; Camp Livingston, LA.; Camp Edwards, Mass.
Embarkation: November 1943
Served; European Theater
Award: Purple Heart
Rank: Private
Served: 2 years and 3 mos.
Buried in Military Cemetery at St. Laurent, France
Mr. and Mrs.. Charlie Roberts are in receipt of a letter from Major General J.A. Ulio of the War Department confirming the recent telegram notifying them of the death of their son, Pvt James Henry Roberts, who was killed in France on June 29 1944.
Major Ulio writes in part " I fully understand your desire to learn as much as possible regarding the circumstances leading to his death and I wish there were more information available to give you. Unfortunately, reports of this nature contain only the briefest details as they are prepared under battle conditions and the means of transmission are limited. I know the sorrow this message has brought you and it is my hope that in time the knowledge of his heroic service to his country, even unto death, may be of sustaining comfort you".
James Henry was born in Paintsville on July 28 1914. Until he volunteered in the Army March 3 1942, he had spent his entire life here with the exception of a few months down in the state on a WPA job. He trained in Louisiana and Virginia before going overseas in December of last year. He landed in England and remained there training for the invasion of France. His participation in that battle which cost him his life was his first combat experience. James Henry feared nothing and his place in the army and in his family cannot be filled. Surviving in addition to his parents are two brothers, Earl, City; and Thomas, in the army in California; four sisters, Mary Brownlee, Cincinnati; Eloise Dickenson, City; Lorena Butcher, Williamsport; and Edna Pauline in the U.S. Waves stationed at Bethesda, Md.
Paintsville Herald
Thursday
8-3-1944
