James R. Hattrick enlisted in the U.S. Army on November 25, 1942 at Camp Croft, South Carolina and volunteered for parachutist duty.
After completion of jump school in Fort Benning, GA he was posted to Camp Mackall where he was a member of "I" Company, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
The regiment was shipped to Belfast, Ireland on December 28, 1943 aboard the USAT James T. Parker where an additional two months of field exercises were conducted before the unit moved to England.
After three months of preparations, the 508th, now attached to the 82nd Airborne Division, jumped into Normandy at about 0130 on the morning of June 6, 1944 -- D-Day.
James landed in the small village of Gourbesville and according to eyewitness reports acted as a sniper while hiding in a woodpile. Pvt Hattrick apparently was responsible for the killing of more than one German soldier before he was killed by a gunshot wound to the head.
James was initially buried in grave number 4 on the northeast side of the Gourbesville church and was marked as "Unknown X-16". He was later properly identified and moved to the Ste. Mere Eglise Temporary Cemetery Number 2, Plot F, Row 4, Grave 67.
Given the choice after the permanent Normandy Cemetery was constructed, the Hattrick family opted to have his remains brought home and he now rests in the Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte, NC.
NOTE; James spelled his name Hattrick, whereas the parents were Hattrich (See the memorial links below).
After completion of jump school in Fort Benning, GA he was posted to Camp Mackall where he was a member of "I" Company, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
The regiment was shipped to Belfast, Ireland on December 28, 1943 aboard the USAT James T. Parker where an additional two months of field exercises were conducted before the unit moved to England.
After three months of preparations, the 508th, now attached to the 82nd Airborne Division, jumped into Normandy at about 0130 on the morning of June 6, 1944 -- D-Day.
James landed in the small village of Gourbesville and according to eyewitness reports acted as a sniper while hiding in a woodpile. Pvt Hattrick apparently was responsible for the killing of more than one German soldier before he was killed by a gunshot wound to the head.
James was initially buried in grave number 4 on the northeast side of the Gourbesville church and was marked as "Unknown X-16". He was later properly identified and moved to the Ste. Mere Eglise Temporary Cemetery Number 2, Plot F, Row 4, Grave 67.
Given the choice after the permanent Normandy Cemetery was constructed, the Hattrick family opted to have his remains brought home and he now rests in the Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte, NC.
NOTE; James spelled his name Hattrick, whereas the parents were Hattrich (See the memorial links below).
James R. Hattrick enlisted in the U.S. Army on November 25, 1942 at Camp Croft, South Carolina and volunteered for parachutist duty.
After completion of jump school in Fort Benning, GA he was posted to Camp Mackall where he was a member of "I" Company, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
The regiment was shipped to Belfast, Ireland on December 28, 1943 aboard the USAT James T. Parker where an additional two months of field exercises were conducted before the unit moved to England.
After three months of preparations, the 508th, now attached to the 82nd Airborne Division, jumped into Normandy at about 0130 on the morning of June 6, 1944 -- D-Day.
James landed in the small village of Gourbesville and according to eyewitness reports acted as a sniper while hiding in a woodpile. Pvt Hattrick apparently was responsible for the killing of more than one German soldier before he was killed by a gunshot wound to the head.
James was initially buried in grave number 4 on the northeast side of the Gourbesville church and was marked as "Unknown X-16". He was later properly identified and moved to the Ste. Mere Eglise Temporary Cemetery Number 2, Plot F, Row 4, Grave 67.
Given the choice after the permanent Normandy Cemetery was constructed, the Hattrick family opted to have his remains brought home and he now rests in the Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte, NC.
NOTE; James spelled his name Hattrick, whereas the parents were Hattrich (See the memorial links below).
After completion of jump school in Fort Benning, GA he was posted to Camp Mackall where he was a member of "I" Company, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
The regiment was shipped to Belfast, Ireland on December 28, 1943 aboard the USAT James T. Parker where an additional two months of field exercises were conducted before the unit moved to England.
After three months of preparations, the 508th, now attached to the 82nd Airborne Division, jumped into Normandy at about 0130 on the morning of June 6, 1944 -- D-Day.
James landed in the small village of Gourbesville and according to eyewitness reports acted as a sniper while hiding in a woodpile. Pvt Hattrick apparently was responsible for the killing of more than one German soldier before he was killed by a gunshot wound to the head.
James was initially buried in grave number 4 on the northeast side of the Gourbesville church and was marked as "Unknown X-16". He was later properly identified and moved to the Ste. Mere Eglise Temporary Cemetery Number 2, Plot F, Row 4, Grave 67.
Given the choice after the permanent Normandy Cemetery was constructed, the Hattrick family opted to have his remains brought home and he now rests in the Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte, NC.
NOTE; James spelled his name Hattrick, whereas the parents were Hattrich (See the memorial links below).
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