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First Name: James

Last Name: Minor

Birthplace: USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Post, TX
Middle Name: L.



Date of Birth: 29 October 1918

Date of Death: 04 August 1976

Rank: Lieutenant Colonel

Years Served:
James L. Minor

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

James L. Minor
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army

On 24 September 1944, then-Major James L. Minor was serving as Commander of an unspecified battalion with the 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, Seventh U.S. Army.

On that day, MAJ Minor’s unit was in action against German forces in the vicinity of Tendon, France. Assigned the mission of severing a strategically important highway, MAJ Minor had almost attained his objective when he was informed that a strong German force had attacked across the road behind him, cutting the battalion's supply and communications lines. In the face of heavy machine gun fire, MAJ Minor immediately called for an 81 mm mortar and, from an exposed position, personally directed the fire of the mortar that successfully neutralized the German machine gun emplacements. His battalion was under heavy automatic and rifle fire from prepared positions to his front, and enemy forces were delivering fire from the rear. Executing a brilliant maneuver, MAJ Minor withdrew his battalion under a hail of hand grenades and attacked the rear force, regaining contact with the remainder of the Regiment. MAJ Minor’s leadership, tactical planning, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin and Silver Star
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry), [then Major] James L. Minor, United States Army, for heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, in action against enemy forces as Commanding Officer of the *** Infantry Regiment, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action in the vicinity of Tendon, France, on 24 September 1944. Assigned the mission of severing a strategically important highway, Colonel Minor had almost attained his objective when he was informed that a strong enemy force had attacked across the road behind him, cutting the unit's supply and communications lines. In the face of heavy machine gun fire, Colonel Minor immediately called for an 81 millimeter mortar and personally observed and directed the fire of the mortar from an exposed position, successfully neutralizing the enemy machine gun emplacements. Although under heavy automatic and rifle fire from prepared positions to his front, and with the hostile forces delivering fire from the rear. Colonel Minor, executing a brilliant maneuver, withdrew his battalion under a hail of hand grenades and attacked the rear force, regaining contact with the remainder of the regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Minor's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 16 (1945)

Death and Burial

Lieutenant Colonel James L. Minor died on 4 August 1976. He is buried at Terrace Cemetery in Post, Garza County, TX.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26752996/james-l-minor



Honoree ID: 315099   Created by: MHOH

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