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World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Private First Class Willy F. James, Jr.
CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism in action on 7 April 1945 near Lippoldsberg, Germany. As lead scout during a maneuver to secure and expand a vital bridgehead, Private First Class James was the first to draw enemy fire. He was pinned down for over an hour, during which time he observed enemy positions in detail. Returning to his platoon, he assisted in working out a new plan of maneuver. He then led a squad in the assault, accurately designating targets as he advanced, until he was killed by enemy machine gun fire while going to the aid of his fatally wounded platoon leader. Private First Class James' fearless, self-assigned actions, coupled with his diligent devotion to duty exemplified the finest traditions of the Armed Forces.
WWII Medal of Honor recipient James honored with naming of Bamberg center
Story and photos by Rick Emert, Bamberg bureau
Brig. Gen. Paul D. Patrick, commanding general of the 7th U.S. Army Reserve Command, speaks at Sunday's dedication of the reserve command's Bamberg reserve center (seen in background) in honor of Pfc. Willy F. James, who was killed in action while performing as a scout in the area of Lippoldsberg, Germany, during World War II.
BAMBERG, Germany Pfc. Willy F. James heroics during World War II went unrecognized for 52 years.
His widow was finally presented with his Medal of Honor in 1997 by President Clinton.
The 7th U.S. Army Reserve Command took honoring James a step further Sunday when it renamed its Bamberg center the Pfc. Willy F. James Army Reserve Center.
"Its not every day that you get a building dedicated to a member of your family," said Johnny Pender, nephew of James widow, Valencie James, who did not attend the ceremony.
"This gives [James] an identity," said Margaret Pender, Penders wife. "Its a wonderful thing to do for an unsung hero. We were honored to be here, to be a part of this."
The center is the first in 7th U.S. Army Reserve Command to be dedicated to an enlisted soldier, said Brig. Gen. Paul D. Patrick, commanding general, in remarks during the ceremony.
Johnny Pender, third from left, and his wife, Margaret, attended Sunday's dedication ceremony honoring Pfc. Willy F. James. Pender is the nephew of James' widow, Valencie James.
"Pfc. James made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of his nation and his fellow soldiers," Patrick said. "And his legacy is an inspiration to not only our citizen soldiers here in Bamberg, but to each and every soldier throughout the 7th Army Reserve Command and U.S. Army Europe."
James was awarded the Medal of Honor for his role in helping his unit, Company G, 413th Infantry Regiment, secure the town of Lippoldsberg, Germany, after fighting across the Weser River.
According to his Medal of Honor award citation, James was acting as a scout on April 7, 1945, to pinpoint enemy firing locations. Later, he volunteered to lead a squad in an assault on key enemy firing points. When James saw his platoon leader wounded by sniper fire, he designated a new squad leader and went to his platoon leaders aid. Before he could reach the wounded platoon leader, however, he was killed by a burst of machine gun fire.
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