James Samuel Summers

Private First Class, U.S. Army
351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division
Entered the Service From: North Carolina
Service #: 34678880
Date of Death: October 10, 1944
Wars or Conflicts:
World War II
Buried:
Plot D Row 28 Grave 30

Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France

Section D, Row 28, Graves 29 and 30 — Staff Sgt. Charles W. Summers of the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, and Pfc. James S. Summers of the 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division. They are among 45 sets of brothers who are either commemorated or buried in the cemetery, including 33 who are buried side by side. Charles rests in Grave 29.


Citations and Awards ~ James Samuel Summers

Purple Heart

The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who after 5 April 1917 have been wounded or killed in action against an enemy of the United States or an opposing armed force, while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict, as the result of acts of enemy or hostile opposing forces, as a result of terrorist attacks or attacks on peacekeeping forces since 28 March 1973, or by friendly fire in circumstance as described above.

Bronze Star
The Bronze Star Medal was established by an Executive Order of 4 February 1944 superseded by an Executive Order of 24 August amended by an Executive Order on 28 February 2003. It is awarded to a person who, while serving with or in the United States Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, or while engaged in military operations against an opposing armed force wherein the United States was not a belligerent party. Actions while in aerial flight are not covered by this award. Awards for acts of heroism rank immediately behind the Silver Star. Awards for acts of merit or meritorious service rank immediately behind the Legion of Merit. Provisions exist for retroactive awards covering the period 7 December 1941 through 1 July 1947, based upon citations in orders, related awards and certificates, and unit awards.
Family resided 1930, Washington Township, Guilford County, North Carolina
Family was notified of James Death while living in Archdale, N.C

Parents: John Rankin Summers and Lillie Mae Hedrick Summers, buried in Guliford Memorial Masoleum, Greensboro, N.C.

Siblings: Charles Wesley Summers, Mary Belle Summers Stutts (Ray Clifton Stutts) and Betty Jean Summers Neely (James Lyman Neely).

© Picture ~ Copyright Michael V. Drachman 2014 ~ All rights reserved

James S. Summers

Private First Class, U.S. Army
351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division
Entered the Service From: North Carolina
Army Serial #: 34678880
Enlisted: August 7, 1943, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, USA
Rank @ ToE: Private
Branch: NBA
Nativity: North Carolina
Born 1925, Archdale or High Point, NC, USA
Education: 2 years of high School ~ Allen jay High School
Marital Status: Single w/o dependents

Date of Death: October 10, 1944, Monte Grande Region, Bologna Province, Emilia-Romagna, Italy


Burial: Section D Row 28 Grave 30
Site GPS: 49.360636,-0.856303
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer
Departement du Calvados
Basse-Normandie, France

Citations and Awards:

Purple Heart

The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who after 5 April 1917 have been wounded or killed in action against an enemy of the United States or an opposing armed force, while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict, as the result of acts of enemy or hostile opposing forces, as a result of terrorist attacks or attacks on peacekeeping forces since 28 March 1973, or by friendly fire in circumstance as described above.

Bronze Star

The Bronze Star Medal was established by an Executive Order of 4 February 1944 superseded by an Executive Order of 24 August amended by an Executive Order on 28 February 2003. It is awarded to a person who, while serving with or in the United States Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, or while engaged in military operations against an opposing armed force wherein the United States was not a belligerent party. Actions while in aerial flight are not covered by this award. Awards for acts of heroism rank immediately behind the Silver Star. Awards for acts of merit or meritorious service rank immediately behind the Legion of Merit. Provisions exist for retroactive awards covering the period 7 December 1941 through 1 July 1947, based upon citations in orders, related awards and certificates, and unit awards.

88th Division Info

After a period of rest and training, the 88th Division opened its assault on the Gothic Line, 21 September 1944, and advanced rapidly along the Firenzuola-Imola road, taking Mount Battaglia (Casola Valsenio, RA) on the 28th. The enemy counterattacked savagely and heavy fighting continued on the line toward the Po Valley. The strategic positions of Mount Grande and Farnetto were taken, 20 and 22 October. From 26 October 1944 to 12 January 1945, the 88th entered a period of defensive patrolling in the Mount Grande-Mount Cerrere sector and the Mount Fano area

Parents: John Rankin Summers and Lillie Mae Hedrick Summers, buried in Guliford Memorial Masoleum, Greensboro, N.C.

Siblings: Charles Wesley Summers, Mary Belle Summers Stutts (Ray Clifton Stutts) and Betty Jean Summers Neely (James Lyman Neely).

© Picture ~ Copyright Michael V. Drachman 2014 ~ All rights reserved

Section D
Site GPS: 49.360422,-0.855871
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer
Departement du Calvados
Basse-Normandie, France