CPL James Harper Hibbs (WWII)


Remembering CPL James Harper Hibbs (Grant Town)

October 3, 1923 - February 20, 1945

----

CPL James Harper Hibbs (Service Number 444786) was born in Grant Town, West Virginia, on October 3, 1923, the son of John and Marie (Fusarini) Hibbs. In 1920, John and Marie were living with John's parents at their dairy farm, where John worked (1920 Census). John later worked as a trackman (1930 census) and tipple repair man (1940 Census) at the coal mine. John's 1942 WWII Draft Card lists his employer as Koppers Coal Company, which worked out of Grant Town.

James was a 1942 graduate of Fairview High School, where he participated in the Science Club, Pep Club, Press Club, and was on the baseball team. It is note-able that at least 3 members of Fairview High School's 1941 Baseball team were killed in service during WWII- James Hibbs, Glen Cosner, and George Krevosky.

18 year-old James Harper Hibbs registered for the draft on June 30, 1942. At the time, he was an employee of Koppers Coal Company, like his father John. James was 5'11" and 169 lbs, with gray eyes, brown hair, and a dark complexion.

Military Service:

On August 16, 1942, James enlisted in the Marines. He received his training at New River, N.C., and Parris Island, S.C. for about 18 months of training before going overseas (Military Rites for Marine on Sunday). According to CPL Hibbs' USMC Casualty Report, he was a member of the Fourth Marine Division, 23rd Marine Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Company F (IDPF).

A July 30, 1944 article in The Times-West Virginian stated that James had been wounded on June 17, 1944 in Saipan while serving with the Fourth Marine Division. "Corporal Hibbs has taken part in the invasion of the Marshall Islands as well as on Saipan. In his letter he states that he wants his friends to know that his founds [SIC] were not serious ones on his right arm and that he is getting along fine" (Wounded-Saipan).

The Fourth and Fifth Marine Divisions landed on Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945. Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith, commander of the Fourth and Fifth Marines, stated "Iwo Jima was the most savage and costly battle in the history of the Marine Corps" (Naval History and Heritage Command). On February 20, 1945, CPL James Harper Hibbs died of his wounds.

Legacy and Survivors:

Returned from Iwo Jima, CPL James Harper Hibbs reached his final resting place at the Grafton National Cemetery on May 16, 1948. James was survived by his parents, four sisters, and four brothers. He was preceded in death by one brother, Henry. James' brothers, SGT Calvin Hibbs (Army) and PFC John Hibbs (Air Force) both served in the Korean War. Their brothers Robert and Virgil also served in the U.S. Navy.

He is honored at the  West Virginia Veterans Memorial in Charleston, WV. 

Sources and More Information:

  • Fairview High School Yearbooks: 1941, 1942 (Accessed through Ancestry and the Fairview Public Library)
  • Family Search Profile:James Harper Hibbs
  • Findagrave Profile:CPL James Harper Hibbs
  • Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF):
    • James Harper Hibbs. Accessed with assistance from the National Archives in St. Louis
  • Naval History and Heritage Command: National Museum of the U.S. Navy
  • Newspaper Articles, in Chronological Order:
    • Wounded-Saipan. The Times-West Virginian. 30 July 1945. Accessed with help from the West Virginia Regional History Center.
    • Six Casualties Are Reported. The Times-West Virginian. 15 April 1945. Accessed with help from the West Virginia Regional History Center.
    • Military Rites For Marine on Sunday. 1948, Publisher unmarked. From Fairview Public Library scrapbooks.
    • Brothers Serve. The Times-West Virginian. 18 November 1951. Accessed with help from the West Virginia Regional History Center.
  • U.S. Census (Accessed through FamilySearch)
  • Veterans Legacy Memorial: 
  • West Virginia Death Record: 
  • WWII Draft Card: 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CPL Olen Jay Canfield (WWII)

Image
Remembering Tec5 Olen Jay Canfield (Levels Road) January 10, 1919 - September 6, 1944 ---- Tec5 Olen Jay "Skeeter" Canfield (Service #35275107) was born January 10, 1919 in Norton, WV, the son of John and Sarah (Fansler) Canfield. Norton is about six and a half miles from Elkins, in Randolph County. Their family spent the next few decades in Marion County (1920-1940 Census) with John working as a general laborer (1920), lumber cutter at the sawmill (1930), and WPA Road Laborer (1940). The 1940 Census specifies their location as Levels Road, and gives Olen's occupation as "new laborer."  Military Service: Olen entered the draft in Colfax on October 16, 1940. At the time, he was unemployed. Olen was 6'3 1/2" and 165 lbs with brown hair, brown eyes, and light brown skin. "Skeeter" enlisted on February 10, 1942 at Fort Hayes in Columbus, Ohio. His occupation was listed as "metal rolling." In the service, Olen was part of the ...
Read more

1LT Frank Kinsey Evans (WWII)

Image
Remembering 1LT Frank Kinsey Evans (Fairmont) April 28, 1916 to May 13, 1944 "He is a gentleman in whom we place absolute trust." - 1934 FSHS Yearbook ------ 1LT Frank Kinsey Evans was born in Fairmont, WV on April 28, 1916 to William and Ora (Kinsey) Evans. William was the Chief Clerk for a local coal company. The family lived in a variety of locations in Fairmont, all on West Side: 1910 Census: 416 Madison Street 1920 Census: 224 Spring Street 1930 Census: 724 Mt. Vernon Avenue 1940 Census: 414 Gaston Avenue Education Frank graduated from Fairmont Senior High School in 1934. The 1933 yearbook states that Frank's ambition was to become an engineer, while his classmates said of him in the 1934 Maple Leaves "He is a gentleman in whom we place absolute trust." While at Fairmont Senior, he participated in Hi-Y and French Club. Next, Frank enrolled at Fairmont State Teachers College (now Fairmont State University). Frank was the student manager of the Fighting Teach...
Read more

CPL Edward Lee Bane (WWII)

Image
Corporal Edward Lee Bane was born December 14, 1911 in Murraysville, Pennsylvania to Kelly Herman Bane and Jesse (Masters) Bane. Unfortunately, his mother died March 9, 1916 of pneumonia following several days of lagrippe and measles, leaving behind three children-- Fred (7), Edward (4), and Marguerite (2). By 1920, Edward (8) was living on Dunkard Mill Road just outside of Farmington, where his father was working as an engineer at the local gas plant. By then, Kelly had married Rose Bradley, with Edward's half-brother, Robert Harry Bane, soon to arrive.  Edward registered for the draft on October 16,1940. He listed himself as 5'8" and 160 pounds, with blue eyes, brown hair, and light brown skin. By then he had married Elizabeth Hoskinson and was living at 511 Rose Avenue in Fairmont, West Virginia. He was working at the Fairmont Supply Company on 10th Street. In 1941, Edward and Elizabeth were living at 411 1/2 Walnut Ave, and both were still working at the Fairmont Suppl...
Read more