African American. Alaska Highway. Medical Detachment. Born: 26 March 1922, Dimopolis, Marengo, AL. Died: 1 October 2004, Dimopolis, Marengo, AL. Enlisted: (1) 18 March 1941 (2) 3 July 1946, Ft. Snelling Minnesota, Regular Army, Medical Department and discharged 27 August 1945.
Education: four years high school. Civilian occupation: tinsmith, sheet metal worker. On 1940 draft card he was employed at G & G Grocery Company. His father was Thomas James, a porter at a retail grocery store and his mother was Estelle James Williams. He married Emma C. Willams Hayes on 28 December 1948 in Franklin, OH.
Pfc James was a member of a medical detachment assigned to the segregated 97th Engineers. They arrived at Valdez, Alaska on 29 April 1942. The 97th Engineers built the northern section of the Alaska Highway. Both returned to Camp Sutton, NC September 1943 and their next assignment was Milne Bay, New Guinea, Philippines.
Serial #34033029