Willy F. James, Jr.

NPS/T. Engberg

Quick Facts

Significance:

WW2 Buffalo Soldier and Medal of Honor Recipient

Place of Birth:

Kansas City, Missouri

Date of Birth:

March 18, 1920

Place of Death:

Lippoldsberg, Germany

Date of Death:

April 7, 1945

Place of Burial:

Margraten, Netherlands

Cemetery Name:

Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial

Willy F. James, Jr., was born on March 18, 1920, in Kansas City, Missouri. James grew up with his mother in Kansas City. His father died when he was very young. Not much is known about James’s life in Kansas City. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in September 1942. Before he shipped out overseas, he married Valcenie James. They didn’t have time for a proper honeymoon or pictures before he left.

For the first two years of James’s service he, like many African Americans, worked in supply and service roles. These jobs included setting up supply depots, unloading ships, cooking, and serving food in mess halls. However, in December 1944, Lieutenant General John C.H. Lee, Deputy Commander of U.S. forces in the European theaters of operations, recognized that there were too many African Americans in supply positions but not enough soldiers on the front lines. Lee wanted to change this imbalance by integrating units in Europe on a one-for-one basis. Many generals, including General Dwight D. Eisenhower, oppose this one-for-one replacement of white soldiers with Black soldiers.

On December 26, 1944, the official call for Black volunteers in service units to transfer to white fighting units was released with Eisenhower’s approval. The response by men in service units was overwhelming. More than 4,500 African American men applied in the first two months of the program. Unable to accommodate everyone who requested the transfer, the Army accepted 2,500. James was one of the soldiers selected for combat replacement training. Like others completing this training, James was placed in an African American platoon and attached to an all-white regiment. These African Americans were known as the 5th Platoon.

After completing training on March 18, 1945, James’s birthday, he was assigned to the 5th Platoon, Company G, 413th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division. The division was known as the Timberwolf Division, because it was originally formed in the Pacific Northwest. James’s 5th Platoon was led by Lieutenant Armand J. Serrabella, from Brooklyn, New York. Serrabella was one of the 413th Infantry’s most experienced officers, having received two Purple Hearts.

James and the rest of the 5th Platoon entered combat for the first time on March 20, 1945, near Cologne, Germany. They, along with other U.S. forces, were slowly pushing back the German forces. Near the town of Paderborn, James led a rifle squad in pursuit of German SS Troops. James’s squad, along with the help of two others, were able to gain an advantage and kill and capture 40 SS troops. The 413th continued its drive deeper into Germany toward the Weser River.

On April 7, James’s unit crossed the Weser River near Lippoldsberg, Germany. He went ahead of his unit to scout enemy positions. During his mission, he was pinned down by heavy enemy fire and was unable to return to his unit for more than an hour. He then ran back to his unit to deliver his observations. As the men of the 5th Platoon advanced to Lippoldsberg, they drew fire from multiple German positions. SS troops fired from every available window, doorway, and opening toward the unit. Lieutenant Serrabella was hit in the chest by machine-gun fire and immediately fell. James immediately left cover to attend to Serrabella. While trying to help Serrabella, James was shot and killed instantly.

In September 1945, James’s widow, Valcenie James, accepted the Distinguished Service Cross that he posthumously received. He was buried in Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Plot P, Row 9, Grave 9 in Margraten, Netherlands.

In the late 1980s, the Department of Defense began to study the issue of why no African Americans were awarded the Medal of Honor during World Wars I and II. The investigation looked at historical documents including Distinguished Service Cross paperwork. It was determined that Black soldiers had been denied consideration for the Medal of Honor in World War II because of their race. They put forward a total of seven men who deserved the Medal of Honor for their actions. Willy F. James, Jr., was one of them. President Bill Clinton posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to James on January 13, 1997. The award was presented to Valcenie James.

Private First Class Willy F. James, Jr.’s Medal of Honor citation reads:
“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Private First Class Willy F. James, Jr. Distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism at the risk of his own life on 7 April 1945 in the Weser River Valley, in the vicinity of Lippoldsberg, Germany. On 7 April 1945, Company G, 413 Infantry, fought its way across the Weser River in order to establish a crucial bridgehead. The company then launched a fierce attack against the town of Lippoldsberg, possession of which was vital to securing and expanding the important bridgehead. Private First Class James was first scout of the lead squad in the assault platoon. The mission of the unit was to seize and secure a group of houses on the edge of town, a foothold from which the unit could launch an attack on the rest of the town. Far out in front, Private First Class James was the first to draw enemy fire. His platoon leader came forward to investigate, but poor visibility made it difficult for Private First Class James to point out enemy positions with any accuracy. Private First Class James volunteered to go forward to fully reconnoiter the enemy situation. Furious crossfire from enemy snipers and machine guns finally pinned down Private First Class James after making his way forward approximately 200 yards across open terrain. Lying in an exposed position for more than an hour, Private First Class James intrepidly observed the enemy’s positions which were given away by the fire Private First Class James was daringly drawing upon himself. Then, with utter indifference to his personal safety, in a storm of enemy small arms fire, Private First Class James made his way back more than 300 yards across open terrain under enemy observation to his platoon positions, and gave a full, detailed report on the enemy disposition. The unit worked out a new plan on maneuver based on Private First Class James’ information. The gallant soldier volunteered to lead a squad in an assault on the key house in the group that formed the platoon objective. He made his way forward, leading his squad in the assault on the strongly held enemy positions in the building and designating targets accurately and continuously as he moved along. While doing so, Private First Class James saw his platoon leader shot down by enemy snipers. Hastily designating and coolly orienting a leader in his place, Private First Class James instantly went to the aid of his platoon leader, exposing himself recklessly to the incessant enemy fire. As he was making his way across open ground, Private First Class James was killed by a burst from an enemy machine gun. Private First Class James’ extraordinary heroic action in the face of withering enemy fire provided the disposition of enemy troops to his platoon. Inspired to the utmost by Private First Class James’ self-sacrifice, the platoon sustained the momentum of the assault and successfully accomplished its mission with a minimum of causalities. Private First Class James contributed very definitely to the success of his battalion in the vitally important combat operation of establishing and expanding a bridgehead over the Weser River. His fearless, self-assigned actions, far above and beyond the normal call of duty, exemplify the finest traditions of the American combat soldier and reflect with highest credit upon Private First Class James and the Armed Forces of the United States.”