James E. Forrester
James Eulis Forrester
US Army
Private
45th Signal Company, 45th Infantry Division
Born March 3 1923 to Luther and Bertie C. Morefield Forrester
Died November 15, 1943
Forrester enlisted on February 2, 1943 at Fort Oglethorpe, GA and was assigned to the 45th Signal Company, 45th Infantry Division, also known as the "Thunderbird" division. The 45th Division was deployed in late June 1943 to North Africa but the Allies had pretty much much secured the African theatre, so his unit continued their training at Aezew, French Morocco in preparation for the invasion of Sicily. The island of Sicily was held by 230,000 German and Italian troops when the 45th Division came ashore in July. The fighting was intense but the unit continued to move slowly north.
In September 1943 Italy surrendered to the Allied powers, so the 45th Division was part of the push to attack Salerno before the Germans could react. Against stiff resistance they pushed to the Calore River after a week of heavy fighting, By end of September they had established a more secure beachhead. By November the unit crossed the Volturno River and took Venafro. The terrain was mountainous and the advance was slow, but they continued.....fighting every step of the way. During this time Pvt Forrester died of wounds received. He received the Purple Heart and is buried in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy. He was only 20 years old.
US Army
Private
45th Signal Company, 45th Infantry Division
Born March 3 1923 to Luther and Bertie C. Morefield Forrester
Died November 15, 1943
Forrester enlisted on February 2, 1943 at Fort Oglethorpe, GA and was assigned to the 45th Signal Company, 45th Infantry Division, also known as the "Thunderbird" division. The 45th Division was deployed in late June 1943 to North Africa but the Allies had pretty much much secured the African theatre, so his unit continued their training at Aezew, French Morocco in preparation for the invasion of Sicily. The island of Sicily was held by 230,000 German and Italian troops when the 45th Division came ashore in July. The fighting was intense but the unit continued to move slowly north.
In September 1943 Italy surrendered to the Allied powers, so the 45th Division was part of the push to attack Salerno before the Germans could react. Against stiff resistance they pushed to the Calore River after a week of heavy fighting, By end of September they had established a more secure beachhead. By November the unit crossed the Volturno River and took Venafro. The terrain was mountainous and the advance was slow, but they continued.....fighting every step of the way. During this time Pvt Forrester died of wounds received. He received the Purple Heart and is buried in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy. He was only 20 years old.
