Service No: 35670752 Unit: 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division

HONOURS: AWARDED A PURPLE HEART

Private James Raymond Flynn, born 28 Sep 1918, was the son of Charles W and Laura (White) Flynn of South Irvine, Estill County, Kentucky. South Irvine is 47 mi SE of Lexington.

In the 1920 census 1 year old James is living with his parents and siblings Nettie 12, John 8, Albert 6, and Orpha 4, on Station Camp Road in Station Camp precinct of Estill County. His father is a general farmer.

In the 1930 census 11-year-old James is living with his parents and siblings Albert 16, Orpha 14, Virginia 8, Thomas 5, and Everett 2, still in Station Camp precinct. His father is still farming.

James enlisted 6 Nov 1942 in Cincinnati. He'd had a grammar school education and was single without dependents. His civil occupation was listed under semiskilled chauffeurs and drivers, bus, taxi, truck, and tractor. He was 5'8" tall and weighed 144 lbs. He was assigned to the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division.

The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for Kentucky show Flynn, James R, Pvt from Estill County as killed in action 25 Mar 1945. James was killed in the break out from the Rhine River bridgehead at Remagen.

James' younger brother, Thomas, was in the 357th IR of the 90th ID. The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for Kentucky show Flynn, Thomas T, Pvt from Estill County as DOI (Died of Injuries) 9 Jul 1944. Thomas was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism at Beau-Coudray in Normandy.

James and Thomas are buried next to each other in Section H, Row 12, Graves 34 and 35 at Henri-Chapelle.

(The information above was kindly submitted by Find a Grave Member 'Andy' ID: 48021049)