Slaton, James Daniel 02-04-1912 in Laurel, Jones County, Mississippi, USA 
James joined the army from Gulfport, Mississippi, in June 1942, and by September 23-09-1943, was serving as a corporal in the 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. 
under command of General Dwight Edward Beach. 
Before 1939, the division’s symbol was a red diamond with a yellow swastika, a tribute to the large Native American population in the southwestern United States. Total battle casualties during their Euriopean campaign,: 20,993 · Killed in action: 3,547 · Wounded in action: 14,441 · Missing in action: 478 · Prisoner of war: 2,527.
On that day, near Oliveto, Italy, 
he single-handedly destroyed three enemy machine gun nests. Lieutenant General Jacob Loucks “Jamie” Devers 
presented Slaton the Medal of Honor 
on 07-06-1944, in Algiers, Algeria. At the same ceremony, Soviet Ambassador Alexandr Ye. Bogomolov 
decorated Slaton with the Order of the Patriotic War Second Class. 
James was issued the award on 30-05-1944, for his actions as a corporal with the 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, US Army, on 23-09-1943, near Oliveto, Italy. He joined the US Army in June 1942 and after his recruit and combat training, he was sent to North Africa and from there to Italy where, on 23-09-1943, he single handedly destroyed three enemy machine gun nests. He was also awarded the Purple Heart. His Medal of Honor citation reads: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy in the vicinity of Oliveto, Italy, on 23-09-1943. Coporel Slaton was lead scout of an infantry squad which had been committed to a flank to knock out enemy resistance which had succeeded in pinning 2 attacking platoons to the ground. Working ahead of his squad, Coporel Slaton crept upon an enemy machinegun nest and, assaulting it with his bayonet, succeeded in killing the gunner. When his bayonet stuck, he detached it from the rifle and killed another gunner with rifle fire. At that time he was fired upon by a machinegun to his immediate left. Coporel Slaton then moved over open ground under constant fire to within throwing distance, and on his second try scored a direct hit on the second enemy machinegun nest, killing 2 enemy gunners. At that time a third machinegun fired on him 100 yards to his front, and Coporel Slaton killed both of these enemy gunners with rifle fire. As a result of Slaton’s heroic action in immobilizing 3 enemy machinegun nests with bayonet, grenade, and rifle fire, the 2 rifle platoons which were receiving heavy casualties from enemy fire were enabled to withdraw to covered positions and again take the initiative.James Slaton withdrew under mortar fire on order of his platoon leader at dusk that evening. The heroic actions of Coporel Slaton were far above and beyond the call of duty and are worthy of emulation.”
Photograph. US soldier is congratulated after receiving the Medal of Honor. Official caption on front: “MM-44-1247.” Official caption on reverse: “Sig C. photo-radioed 07-06-1944. Algiers: Corporel James Daniel Slaton, Gulfport, Mississippi; being congratulated after ceremony awarding him the U.S. Medal of Honor, and the Russian decoration -Order of Patriotic War, 2nd. degree – for outstanding gallantry in Italy,. L-R: Alexander Bogomolov, Soviet Ambassador to French Committee of Nat’l. Liberation, Cpl. Slaton, Lietenant General. Jacob Loucks Devers, and Robert Daniel. Murphy, 
U.S. political advisor. ” Algiers, Algeria. 07-06-1944.
Death and burial ground of Slaton, James Daniel.
Slaton left the army while still a corporal. 
and died on 25-02-1961, age 48, in Laurel, Mississippi, United States and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in his birth city of Laurel, Mississippi.
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