James Jr, Willy Frederick.

James Jr, Willy Frederick, born 18-03-1920 in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, and grew up there the only child of a widowed mother. He was drafted into the Army in September 1942, but before he left Kansas City, he married, not even having time for a proper honeymoon with wife, Valcenie.

Willy, age 22, enlisted in the U.S. Army on 11-09-1942. In the last days of 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, certain African American troops, formerly largely barred from combat duty, were called upon to volunteer and form replacement battalions to supplement depleted infantry regiments. James was one of more than 2,200 Black soldiers selected for an expedited four-week training course at the Ground Forces Reinforcement Center in France. He was recognized in that training for his marksmanship and leadership.

Just two days after his 25th birthday, on 20-03-1945, PFC James and the other 413th Infantry Regiment reinforcements arrived in the ruins of Cologne, Germany, just two weeks after Americans first entered the ancient city. Joining up with the 2nd Battalion, they didn’t stay put for long. The next day, they crossed the Rhine River and relieved the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. under command of  Major General Clarence Ralf Huebner .  Pinned down by German artillery for several days, the 413th slowly began to resume the offensive and gain ground. German POW numbers grew as some defenders were overrun, but SS troops remained at the attack, withdrawing to regroup as the Allies pushed ahead.

In April 1945, Willy was an infantry scout assigned to Company G, 413th Infantry Regiment, motto “Stronger After Difficulties” 104th Infantry Division (“Timberwolves”).   under command of Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen Sr. On 07-04-1945, James was lead scout during a maneuver to secure an enemy bridgehead near Lippoldsberg, Germany, the U.S. forces fought to secure a vital bridgehead across the Weser River.

Death and burial ground of James Jr, Willy Frederick.

The James Family received a honorary high school diploma from Lincoln College Preparatory Academy for Medal of Honor Recipient Private First Class Willy Frederick James Jr. Elizabeth Baldwin, 104-year-old sister of the late Pfc. Willy F. James, Jr., recipient of the Medal of Honor , received her brother’s honorary high school diploma from Lincoln College Preparatory.

James and six other Black Americans who served in World War II were awarded the Medal of Honor on 12-01-1997. The Medal of Honor was posthumously presented to James by President Bill Clinton on 13–01-1997, during a Medals of Honor ceremony for the seven recipients at the White House in Washington, D.C. The seven recipients are the first and only Black Americans to be awarded the Medal of Honor for World War II. The seven were.

Private First Class Willy F. James Jr.: Awarded posthumously for his actions as a scout near Lippoldsberg, Germany, where he was killed in action on 07-04-1945, age 25. 

Staff Sergeant Edward Alen Carter Jr. member of the “1st Infantry Company Provisional, 7th Army (Negro Company),” Passed away 30-01-1963 (aged 46) in Los Angeles, California, United States, Buried at Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia :Awarded posthumously.

1st Lieutenant John Robert Fox Lieutenant with the 598th Field Artillery Battalion, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division, killed in action after calling in artillery fire on 26-12-1944, age 29. Buried in Colebrook Cemetery in Whitman, Massachusetts.: Awarded posthumously.

Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers A tank company platoon sergeant in Able Company, 761st Tank Battalion, killed in action on 19-11-1944 (aged 26) near Guebling, German-occupied France. Buried at Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, Section Row 5 Grave 53 : Awarded posthumously.

1st Lieutenant Charles Leroy Thomas Major Unit C Company, 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion Charles, he died of cancer on 15-02-1980, age 59. He was buried in Westlawn Cemetery in Wayne, Michigan.: Awarded posthumously.

Private George Watson :  A member of the 2nd Battalion, 29th Quartermaster Regiment. Died 08-03-1943 (age 28) in Papua New Guinea: Awarded posthumously for saving fellow soldiers during a Japanese attack on his transport ship. Buried at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

2nd Lieutenant Vernon Joseph Baker : The only living recipient, who received his medal during the ceremony. 

As his regiment crossed the Weser River, Willy was pinned down for more than an hour by enemy machine gun fire. After James returned to his platoon with his scouting observations, he helped to develop a new assault plan, designating targets in the new attack. Later, when James saw his platoon leader shot down by enemy snipers, he went to his lieutenant’s aid and was himself, age 25, killed by machine gun fire as he was making his way across open ground. On 14-09-1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism.

Medal of Honor

In the early 1990s, it was determined that Black soldiers had been denied consideration for the Medal of Honor (MOH) in World War II because of their race. In 1993, the U.S. Army had contracted Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, to research and determine if there was racial disparity in the review process for recipients of the MOH. The study commissioned by the U.S. Army, described systematic racial discrimination in the criteria for awarding decorations during World War II. After an exhaustive review of files, the study recommended in 1996 that ten Black Americans who served in World War II be awarded the MOH. In October of that year, Congress passed legislation that would allow President Clinton to award the Medal of Honor to these former soldiers. Seven of the ten including Privte First Class Willy James were approved, and awarded the MOH (six had Distinguished Service Crosses revoked and upgraded to the MOH) on January 12-01-1997. On 13-01-1997, President Clinton presented the MOH to the seven Black Americans; Private First Class James and five others were posthumously presented the MOH. Private First Class James’s widow accepted the MOH on his behalf during the ceremony. Vernon Baker was the only living recipient of the medal at the time.

Private First Class James Jr, Willy Frederick, was buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in the Dutch town of Margraten. His grave can be found in Plot P, Row 9, Grave 9.

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