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name
BARRAS, James J - Date of
birth
26 February 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
St. Landry Parish, Louisiana -
Hometown
Krotz Springs, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38264750 -
Rank
Corporal -
Function
Gunner -
Unit
C Company,
17th Tank Battalion,
7th Armored Division
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
4 October 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity on St. Anthonis, 1 km northwest of Overloon, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Adolph Barras (father)
Corrine (Delanse) Barras (mother)
Patrick Barras (brother)
Helton Barras (brother)
Denegè Barras (sister)
Vera Barras (sister)
More information
Cpl James J. Barras enlisted in Lafayette, Louisiana on 28 November 1942.He was a construction worker before he enlisted.
According to the statement of a surviving crew member, Albert H. Litchford, their tank was knocked out by anti-tank fire and burned immediately. Cpl Barras was the gunner and occupied the turret position and could not have dismounted from the tank before it was destroyed by fire as the tank received three direct hits on the left front of the turret. Also Pfc Bernie E. Kimmons was killed. Three other members, Lt William M. Binders, T/4 Albert H. Lithford and Pfc Donald H. Cox could evacuate the tank.
A field investigation conducted in February 1947 failed to locate the remains or provide clues as to the fate of Cpl Barras. It was concluded that is was logical that he was killed when his tank was hit and his remains were cremated by the fire and explosions and later disposed of by the enemy in an unknown manner and location which precludes recovery.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.7tharmddiv.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1920 Census, http://www.7tharmoredmemorial.nl
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Daily World - 3 November 1944