Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
THORNTON, James Goodlett Jr "Jimmy" - Date of
birth
8 April 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina -
Hometown
Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-396129 -
Rank
Captain -
Function
Company Commander -
Unit
B Company,
741st Tank Battalion
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
14 September 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Roscheid, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
James G. Thornton Sr. (father)
Miriam B. (Holladay) Thornton (mother)
William Thornton (brother)
Frances Thornton (sister)
Lucretia Thornton (wife)
Norine (Holbrook) Thornton (wife)
More information
Capt James G. Thornton Jr. graduated from The Citadel Military College in Charleston, South Carolina. He joined the U.S. Army Reserve in February 1942 and was sent overseas In October 1943.His unit went ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day using 'duplex drive' Sherman tanks, fitted with flotation bladders and propellers. All sank before reaching the shore but Capt Thornton was rescued and rejoined his company the following day.
For his actions in Normandy he was awarded the a Bronze Star Medal.
His tank was hit and only one man of the crew survived.
Source of information: Leo Minne, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census / U.S. Headstone and Interment Record for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / U.S. Draft Cards Young Men / U.S. WW2 Hospital Admission Cards
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com – Wouter van Dijken