PFC James Edward Monroe (WWII)


Remembering PFC James Edward Monroe (Worthington/Fairmont)

July 7, 1922 - September 8, 1944

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PFC James Edward Monroe (Service #33554254) was born in Chiefton, WV (near Worthington) on July 7, 1922, the son of Arch and Lura (Post) Monroe.

Their family spent most of James' life in the Grant District of Marion County, where Arch worked as a "mining machine" operator (1920 Census) and farmer (1930 census). The 1935 Fairmont City Directory shows a brief detour to the Westchester area of Fairmont, but by 1940 they were back in the Grant District, this time specifically on a side road near Boothes Creek/ (Old) Monongah Road (1940 Census). At that time Arch was working as a "coal loader" (1940 census). 

Military Service:

James entered the draft on Jume 30, 1942 in Calvert County, Maryland. At that time he was living in North Beach, Maryland and working at "Uncle Billy's Amusement Park." James was 6'1 1/4" and 191 lbs, with gray eyes, brown hair, and ruddy skin.

PFC James Edward Monroe enlisted on February 1, 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland, while still a resident of Calvert, MD. His enlistment record shows that while in WV, he had completed two years of high school. 

He became a member of the 141st Infantry, 36th Infantry Division.

141st Infantry, 36th Infantry Division

The Texas Military Forces Museum says of the 36th Infantry Division's service in WWII:

"[The Division] landed in North Africa, conducted amphibious training and on 9 September 1943, landed in Italy at Paestum in the Gulf of Salerno. The 36th was the first American combat division to land on the continent of Europe.

The Division fought in the Italian Campaign as part of the 5th United States Army in such notable actions as Mt. Lungo, San Pietro and the Rapido River. In the Rapido River action, the Division lost the better part of two of its three regiments - 141st and 143d - in unsuccessful attempts to cross the river. The attempted crossing was made to divert German troops from the landing of allied troops at Anzio. On 25 May 1944, the Division landed at Anzio and led the breakout toward Rome. The Division captured Velletri on 1 June 1944, and opened the gates of Rome for the 5th Army. 

The Division was then pulled out of Italy and landed on the beaches of Southern France on 15 August. Driving up through Southern France, the 36th was attacking and breaking the Siegfried Line when the war in Europe ended. The 36th had spent 400 days in combat, accepted the surrender of Field Marshal Hermann Goering, won seven campaign streamers for its colors, taken part in two assault landings and 14 of its members had won the Medal of Honor. The Division had the ninth highest casualty rate of any Army Division in World War II." 

Legacy and Survivors:

PFC James Edward Monroe was killed in action by an artillery shell (Hospital Admission Form) on September 8, 1944, somewhere between Montélimar and Vesoul, France (36th Infantry Divsion Campaign Map). He is buried at the historic Woodlawn Cemetery in Fairmont, WV.

James was survived by his parents, Arch and Lura, as well as seven siblings: 2 brothers, and five sisters. A 1944 article in The West Virginian shared pictures and information about James and his brother Arch (Jr), alongside that of their brothers-in-law who were also serving in WWII.

He is honored on the "Marion County Veterans Killed in Action" Memorial at Veterans Square in Fairmont, WV, and at the  West Virginia Veterans Memorial in Charleston, WV.

Sources and More Information:


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