James served as a Private, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, U.S. Army during World War II.
He resided in Erie County, New York prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on November 25, 1940, prior to the war, in Buffalo, New York. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a mechanic and also as Single, without dependents.
James was "Killed In Action" near Majaz al Bab, Tunisia during the war.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 12017435
Son of Mrs. Ruth Cruden who resided in Niagara Falls, New York.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5007 in Gowanda, New York is named in his honor!
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
The following was noted by Find A Grave member Andy:
Private James J Cruden, born 1922 in Pennsylvania, was the son of George Vincent and Ruth E (Arthur) Cruden of Gowanda, Erie County, New York. Gowanda is 33 miles south of Buffalo.
In the 1940 census 17-year-old James is living with his parents and sister Virginia 18, at 17 Buffalo Street in Gowanda. His parents are both attendants at a state hospital.
James enlisted 25 Nov 1940 in Buffalo. He’d had a grammar school education and was single without dependents. His civil occupation was listed under semiskilled mechanics and repairmen, motor vehicles. He was 5’8” and weighed 182 lbs. He was assigned to the 18th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division.
In the 1942 Niagara Falls city directory James’ parents are listed as living at #5 Hotel Beirs in Niagara Falls. NY. Ruth Cruden is a saleslady at Jenss Brothers Department Store.
The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for New York show Cruden, James J, Pvt from Erie County as killed in action 25 Dec 1942.
On 25 Dec 1942 the 18th Infantry Regiment (18th Regimental Combat Team) was with the British Coldstream Guards just west of the Medjerda River 7.5 miles north of Medjez el Bab, Tunisia, trying to take Hill 243 “Longstop Hill”.
From An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson: "Longstop offered omniscience. From its crest nothing in the Medjerda River valley could move undetected, not a rabbit, not a man, certainly not a tank." Pvt Cruden was likely killed when Longstop Hill fell in a German counterattack on Christmas morning. The Allies, pushed seven miles back to Medjez el Bab, would not be back on Longstop until April 1943.
First Battle of Longstop Hill: On the night of 22/23 December 1942, the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards mounted an attack in heavy rain, capturing what they thought to be the whole massif, before being relieved by the U.S. 18th Regimental Combat Team.
The Germans counter-attacked, driving the Americans off Djebel el Ahmera (Jabal al Ahmirah today) but the next night the Guards recaptured the hill only to find, when daylight came, that another summit, Djebel Ghar, remained to be assaulted.
During the night the Guards attacked once again and captured the second hill, but they were later driven off by a German counterattack on Christmas Day.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5007 in Gowanda, New York, is named in his honor.
He resided in Erie County, New York prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on November 25, 1940, prior to the war, in Buffalo, New York. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a mechanic and also as Single, without dependents.
James was "Killed In Action" near Majaz al Bab, Tunisia during the war.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 12017435
Son of Mrs. Ruth Cruden who resided in Niagara Falls, New York.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5007 in Gowanda, New York is named in his honor!
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
The following was noted by Find A Grave member Andy:
Private James J Cruden, born 1922 in Pennsylvania, was the son of George Vincent and Ruth E (Arthur) Cruden of Gowanda, Erie County, New York. Gowanda is 33 miles south of Buffalo.
In the 1940 census 17-year-old James is living with his parents and sister Virginia 18, at 17 Buffalo Street in Gowanda. His parents are both attendants at a state hospital.
James enlisted 25 Nov 1940 in Buffalo. He’d had a grammar school education and was single without dependents. His civil occupation was listed under semiskilled mechanics and repairmen, motor vehicles. He was 5’8” and weighed 182 lbs. He was assigned to the 18th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division.
In the 1942 Niagara Falls city directory James’ parents are listed as living at #5 Hotel Beirs in Niagara Falls. NY. Ruth Cruden is a saleslady at Jenss Brothers Department Store.
The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for New York show Cruden, James J, Pvt from Erie County as killed in action 25 Dec 1942.
On 25 Dec 1942 the 18th Infantry Regiment (18th Regimental Combat Team) was with the British Coldstream Guards just west of the Medjerda River 7.5 miles north of Medjez el Bab, Tunisia, trying to take Hill 243 “Longstop Hill”.
From An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson: "Longstop offered omniscience. From its crest nothing in the Medjerda River valley could move undetected, not a rabbit, not a man, certainly not a tank." Pvt Cruden was likely killed when Longstop Hill fell in a German counterattack on Christmas morning. The Allies, pushed seven miles back to Medjez el Bab, would not be back on Longstop until April 1943.
First Battle of Longstop Hill: On the night of 22/23 December 1942, the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards mounted an attack in heavy rain, capturing what they thought to be the whole massif, before being relieved by the U.S. 18th Regimental Combat Team.
The Germans counter-attacked, driving the Americans off Djebel el Ahmera (Jabal al Ahmirah today) but the next night the Guards recaptured the hill only to find, when daylight came, that another summit, Djebel Ghar, remained to be assaulted.
During the night the Guards attacked once again and captured the second hill, but they were later driven off by a German counterattack on Christmas Day.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5007 in Gowanda, New York, is named in his honor.
James served as a Private, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, U.S. Army during World War II.
He resided in Erie County, New York prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on November 25, 1940, prior to the war, in Buffalo, New York. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a mechanic and also as Single, without dependents.
James was "Killed In Action" near Majaz al Bab, Tunisia during the war.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 12017435
Son of Mrs. Ruth Cruden who resided in Niagara Falls, New York.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5007 in Gowanda, New York is named in his honor!
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
The following was noted by Find A Grave member Andy:
Private James J Cruden, born 1922 in Pennsylvania, was the son of George Vincent and Ruth E (Arthur) Cruden of Gowanda, Erie County, New York. Gowanda is 33 miles south of Buffalo.
In the 1940 census 17-year-old James is living with his parents and sister Virginia 18, at 17 Buffalo Street in Gowanda. His parents are both attendants at a state hospital.
James enlisted 25 Nov 1940 in Buffalo. He’d had a grammar school education and was single without dependents. His civil occupation was listed under semiskilled mechanics and repairmen, motor vehicles. He was 5’8” and weighed 182 lbs. He was assigned to the 18th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division.
In the 1942 Niagara Falls city directory James’ parents are listed as living at #5 Hotel Beirs in Niagara Falls. NY. Ruth Cruden is a saleslady at Jenss Brothers Department Store.
The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for New York show Cruden, James J, Pvt from Erie County as killed in action 25 Dec 1942.
On 25 Dec 1942 the 18th Infantry Regiment (18th Regimental Combat Team) was with the British Coldstream Guards just west of the Medjerda River 7.5 miles north of Medjez el Bab, Tunisia, trying to take Hill 243 “Longstop Hill”.
From An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson: "Longstop offered omniscience. From its crest nothing in the Medjerda River valley could move undetected, not a rabbit, not a man, certainly not a tank." Pvt Cruden was likely killed when Longstop Hill fell in a German counterattack on Christmas morning. The Allies, pushed seven miles back to Medjez el Bab, would not be back on Longstop until April 1943.
First Battle of Longstop Hill: On the night of 22/23 December 1942, the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards mounted an attack in heavy rain, capturing what they thought to be the whole massif, before being relieved by the U.S. 18th Regimental Combat Team.
The Germans counter-attacked, driving the Americans off Djebel el Ahmera (Jabal al Ahmirah today) but the next night the Guards recaptured the hill only to find, when daylight came, that another summit, Djebel Ghar, remained to be assaulted.
During the night the Guards attacked once again and captured the second hill, but they were later driven off by a German counterattack on Christmas Day.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5007 in Gowanda, New York, is named in his honor.
He resided in Erie County, New York prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on November 25, 1940, prior to the war, in Buffalo, New York. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a mechanic and also as Single, without dependents.
James was "Killed In Action" near Majaz al Bab, Tunisia during the war.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 12017435
Son of Mrs. Ruth Cruden who resided in Niagara Falls, New York.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5007 in Gowanda, New York is named in his honor!
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
The following was noted by Find A Grave member Andy:
Private James J Cruden, born 1922 in Pennsylvania, was the son of George Vincent and Ruth E (Arthur) Cruden of Gowanda, Erie County, New York. Gowanda is 33 miles south of Buffalo.
In the 1940 census 17-year-old James is living with his parents and sister Virginia 18, at 17 Buffalo Street in Gowanda. His parents are both attendants at a state hospital.
James enlisted 25 Nov 1940 in Buffalo. He’d had a grammar school education and was single without dependents. His civil occupation was listed under semiskilled mechanics and repairmen, motor vehicles. He was 5’8” and weighed 182 lbs. He was assigned to the 18th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division.
In the 1942 Niagara Falls city directory James’ parents are listed as living at #5 Hotel Beirs in Niagara Falls. NY. Ruth Cruden is a saleslady at Jenss Brothers Department Store.
The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for New York show Cruden, James J, Pvt from Erie County as killed in action 25 Dec 1942.
On 25 Dec 1942 the 18th Infantry Regiment (18th Regimental Combat Team) was with the British Coldstream Guards just west of the Medjerda River 7.5 miles north of Medjez el Bab, Tunisia, trying to take Hill 243 “Longstop Hill”.
From An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson: "Longstop offered omniscience. From its crest nothing in the Medjerda River valley could move undetected, not a rabbit, not a man, certainly not a tank." Pvt Cruden was likely killed when Longstop Hill fell in a German counterattack on Christmas morning. The Allies, pushed seven miles back to Medjez el Bab, would not be back on Longstop until April 1943.
First Battle of Longstop Hill: On the night of 22/23 December 1942, the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards mounted an attack in heavy rain, capturing what they thought to be the whole massif, before being relieved by the U.S. 18th Regimental Combat Team.
The Germans counter-attacked, driving the Americans off Djebel el Ahmera (Jabal al Ahmirah today) but the next night the Guards recaptured the hill only to find, when daylight came, that another summit, Djebel Ghar, remained to be assaulted.
During the night the Guards attacked once again and captured the second hill, but they were later driven off by a German counterattack on Christmas Day.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5007 in Gowanda, New York, is named in his honor.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
