JESSE JAMES METCALF
Cpl. Jesse James Metcalf (1920-2014) was a World War Two Army Veteran. He was a part of Company A 159th Infantry. He was an expert with a Carbine Rifle & a Rifleman Instructor. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star and also the Good Conduct Medal. He entered into service on July 17, 1942 in Oglethrope, Georgia and separated from the Army on Nov. 5, 1945 in Fannin, Texas. He fought in the Aleutian Islands on Attu. His comrades in arms called him "Tennessee" because he came from Erwin, Tennessee. Jesse had hunted in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina as a boy. He was drafted in July 1942. He took his hunting skills with him to the war. He was twenty-one years old. He told me when they sailed from California that he thought he would never return home.
On 11 May 1943, the operation to recapture Attu began. Included with the invasion force were scouts recruited from Alaska, nicknamed Castner's Cutthroats. A shortage of landing craft, unsuitable beaches, and equipment that failed to operate in the appalling weather made it difficult to bring any force against the Japanese. Soldiers suffered from frostbite because essential supplies could not be landed, or could not be moved to where needed because vehicles would not work on the tundra. Led by Colonel Yasuyo Yamasaki, the Japanese defenders did not contest the landings, instead digging in on high ground far from the shore. This resulted in fierce combat, with a total of 3,929 U.S. casualties; 580 men were killed, 1,148 were wounded, and another 1,200 had severe cold injuries. In addition, 614 died of disease, and 318 from miscellaneous causes, mainly Japanese booby traps or friendly fire.
On 29 May, the last of the Japanese forces attacked without warning near Massacre Bay in one of the largest banzai charges of the Pacific campaign. Led by Colonel Yamasaki, the attack penetrated U.S. lines so deeply that it encountered rear-echelon units of the American force. After furious, brutal, often hand-to-hand combat, the Japanese force was virtually exterminated. Only 28 had been willing to be taken prisoner, none of them officers. American burial teams counted 2,351 Japanese dead, but it was thought that hundreds more bodies had been buried by bombardments during the battle.
Jesse James Metcalf, 94, of Reeves Cove Road, Candler, N.C. died Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at Memorial Mission Hospital.
Jesse was born in Yancey County, N.C. on October 21, 1920. He was the son of the late Hobert Edgar Metcalf and Nancy Elizabeth Fox Metcalf and husband of Robbie Edith McIntosh who died on November 24, 2014.
He lived in Erwin, Tennessee in his early years. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 17, 1942 from Unicoi County, Tennessee. He did his basic training in Oglethrope, Georgia. He fought with Company A 159th Infantry in the Aleutian Islands on Attu. His comrades in arms called him "Tennessee" because he came from Tennessee where he hunted as a boy in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina. His hunting skills served him well in the Army. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star and the Good Conduct Medal. He was an expert with a Carbine Rifle and was promoted to Corporal and made a rifle instructor. He separated from the Army at the end of World War II on November 5, 1945. He married Robbie Edith McIntosh on July 26, 1950. Their marriage lasted 64 years until Robbie's death. He worked for the United States Post Office in Erwin, Tennessee, Newport News, Virginia and Asheville, N.C. and retired from a rural route in Bakersville, N.C. in 1983. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was truly part of the "Greatest Generation".
He is survived by his daughters, Brenda Joann Metcalf (Wayne) and Linda Marie Ledford (Eddie); grandchildren, David Metcalf (Heidi), Tara Metcalf Pressley (Tommy), Nathan Metcalf (Amy), Jacob Metcalf, Eddie Ledford II, Amanda Ledford; great-grandchildren, Jacob and Nick Pressley, Ethan and Gavin Major, Marah Metcalf; sisters, Bonnie Marie Shelton and Opal Joann Paramore.
His family will cherish his memory along with his beloved wife, Robbie. They were always together in their life and died close together. We believe they are united again.
His funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 10, 2014 in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, N.C. Rev. Eddie Ledford (his son-in-law) and Rev. Lawrence English (his nephew) officiated. His pallbearers were his grandsons, David Metcalf, Nathan Metcalf and Jacob Metcalf; his great-grandsons, Jacob Pressley and Nick Pressley and his granddaughter's husband, Tommy Pressley. Tennessee National Guard provided military rites. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery in Erwin, Tennessee.
Cpl. Jesse James Metcalf (1920-2014) was a World War Two Army Veteran. He was a part of Company A 159th Infantry. He was an expert with a Carbine Rifle & a Rifleman Instructor. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star and also the Good Conduct Medal. He entered into service on July 17, 1942 in Oglethrope, Georgia and separated from the Army on Nov. 5, 1945 in Fannin, Texas. He fought in the Aleutian Islands on Attu. His comrades in arms called him "Tennessee" because he came from Erwin, Tennessee. Jesse had hunted in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina as a boy. He was drafted in July 1942. He took his hunting skills with him to the war. He was twenty-one years old. He told me when they sailed from California that he thought he would never return home.
On 11 May 1943, the operation to recapture Attu began. Included with the invasion force were scouts recruited from Alaska, nicknamed Castner's Cutthroats. A shortage of landing craft, unsuitable beaches, and equipment that failed to operate in the appalling weather made it difficult to bring any force against the Japanese. Soldiers suffered from frostbite because essential supplies could not be landed, or could not be moved to where needed because vehicles would not work on the tundra. Led by Colonel Yasuyo Yamasaki, the Japanese defenders did not contest the landings, instead digging in on high ground far from the shore. This resulted in fierce combat, with a total of 3,929 U.S. casualties; 580 men were killed, 1,148 were wounded, and another 1,200 had severe cold injuries. In addition, 614 died of disease, and 318 from miscellaneous causes, mainly Japanese booby traps or friendly fire.
On 29 May, the last of the Japanese forces attacked without warning near Massacre Bay in one of the largest banzai charges of the Pacific campaign. Led by Colonel Yamasaki, the attack penetrated U.S. lines so deeply that it encountered rear-echelon units of the American force. After furious, brutal, often hand-to-hand combat, the Japanese force was virtually exterminated. Only 28 had been willing to be taken prisoner, none of them officers. American burial teams counted 2,351 Japanese dead, but it was thought that hundreds more bodies had been buried by bombardments during the battle.
Jesse James Metcalf, 94, of Reeves Cove Road, Candler, N.C. died Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at Memorial Mission Hospital.
Jesse was born in Yancey County, N.C. on October 21, 1920. He was the son of the late Hobert Edgar Metcalf and Nancy Elizabeth Fox Metcalf and husband of Robbie Edith McIntosh who died on November 24, 2014.
He lived in Erwin, Tennessee in his early years. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 17, 1942 from Unicoi County, Tennessee. He did his basic training in Oglethrope, Georgia. He fought with Company A 159th Infantry in the Aleutian Islands on Attu. His comrades in arms called him "Tennessee" because he came from Tennessee where he hunted as a boy in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina. His hunting skills served him well in the Army. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star and the Good Conduct Medal. He was an expert with a Carbine Rifle and was promoted to Corporal and made a rifle instructor. He separated from the Army at the end of World War II on November 5, 1945. He married Robbie Edith McIntosh on July 26, 1950. Their marriage lasted 64 years until Robbie's death. He worked for the United States Post Office in Erwin, Tennessee, Newport News, Virginia and Asheville, N.C. and retired from a rural route in Bakersville, N.C. in 1983. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was truly part of the "Greatest Generation".
He is survived by his daughters, Brenda Joann Metcalf (Wayne) and Linda Marie Ledford (Eddie); grandchildren, David Metcalf (Heidi), Tara Metcalf Pressley (Tommy), Nathan Metcalf (Amy), Jacob Metcalf, Eddie Ledford II, Amanda Ledford; great-grandchildren, Jacob and Nick Pressley, Ethan and Gavin Major, Marah Metcalf; sisters, Bonnie Marie Shelton and Opal Joann Paramore.
His family will cherish his memory along with his beloved wife, Robbie. They were always together in their life and died close together. We believe they are united again.
His funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 10, 2014 in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, N.C. Rev. Eddie Ledford (his son-in-law) and Rev. Lawrence English (his nephew) officiated. His pallbearers were his grandsons, David Metcalf, Nathan Metcalf and Jacob Metcalf; his great-grandsons, Jacob Pressley and Nick Pressley and his granddaughter's husband, Tommy Pressley. Tennessee National Guard provided military rites. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery in Erwin, Tennessee.
JESSE JAMES METCALF
Cpl. Jesse James Metcalf (1920-2014) was a World War Two Army Veteran. He was a part of Company A 159th Infantry. He was an expert with a Carbine Rifle & a Rifleman Instructor. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star and also the Good Conduct Medal. He entered into service on July 17, 1942 in Oglethrope, Georgia and separated from the Army on Nov. 5, 1945 in Fannin, Texas. He fought in the Aleutian Islands on Attu. His comrades in arms called him "Tennessee" because he came from Erwin, Tennessee. Jesse had hunted in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina as a boy. He was drafted in July 1942. He took his hunting skills with him to the war. He was twenty-one years old. He told me when they sailed from California that he thought he would never return home.
On 11 May 1943, the operation to recapture Attu began. Included with the invasion force were scouts recruited from Alaska, nicknamed Castner's Cutthroats. A shortage of landing craft, unsuitable beaches, and equipment that failed to operate in the appalling weather made it difficult to bring any force against the Japanese. Soldiers suffered from frostbite because essential supplies could not be landed, or could not be moved to where needed because vehicles would not work on the tundra. Led by Colonel Yasuyo Yamasaki, the Japanese defenders did not contest the landings, instead digging in on high ground far from the shore. This resulted in fierce combat, with a total of 3,929 U.S. casualties; 580 men were killed, 1,148 were wounded, and another 1,200 had severe cold injuries. In addition, 614 died of disease, and 318 from miscellaneous causes, mainly Japanese booby traps or friendly fire.
On 29 May, the last of the Japanese forces attacked without warning near Massacre Bay in one of the largest banzai charges of the Pacific campaign. Led by Colonel Yamasaki, the attack penetrated U.S. lines so deeply that it encountered rear-echelon units of the American force. After furious, brutal, often hand-to-hand combat, the Japanese force was virtually exterminated. Only 28 had been willing to be taken prisoner, none of them officers. American burial teams counted 2,351 Japanese dead, but it was thought that hundreds more bodies had been buried by bombardments during the battle.
Jesse James Metcalf, 94, of Reeves Cove Road, Candler, N.C. died Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at Memorial Mission Hospital.
Jesse was born in Yancey County, N.C. on October 21, 1920. He was the son of the late Hobert Edgar Metcalf and Nancy Elizabeth Fox Metcalf and husband of Robbie Edith McIntosh who died on November 24, 2014.
He lived in Erwin, Tennessee in his early years. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 17, 1942 from Unicoi County, Tennessee. He did his basic training in Oglethrope, Georgia. He fought with Company A 159th Infantry in the Aleutian Islands on Attu. His comrades in arms called him "Tennessee" because he came from Tennessee where he hunted as a boy in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina. His hunting skills served him well in the Army. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star and the Good Conduct Medal. He was an expert with a Carbine Rifle and was promoted to Corporal and made a rifle instructor. He separated from the Army at the end of World War II on November 5, 1945. He married Robbie Edith McIntosh on July 26, 1950. Their marriage lasted 64 years until Robbie's death. He worked for the United States Post Office in Erwin, Tennessee, Newport News, Virginia and Asheville, N.C. and retired from a rural route in Bakersville, N.C. in 1983. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was truly part of the "Greatest Generation".
He is survived by his daughters, Brenda Joann Metcalf (Wayne) and Linda Marie Ledford (Eddie); grandchildren, David Metcalf (Heidi), Tara Metcalf Pressley (Tommy), Nathan Metcalf (Amy), Jacob Metcalf, Eddie Ledford II, Amanda Ledford; great-grandchildren, Jacob and Nick Pressley, Ethan and Gavin Major, Marah Metcalf; sisters, Bonnie Marie Shelton and Opal Joann Paramore.
His family will cherish his memory along with his beloved wife, Robbie. They were always together in their life and died close together. We believe they are united again.
His funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 10, 2014 in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, N.C. Rev. Eddie Ledford (his son-in-law) and Rev. Lawrence English (his nephew) officiated. His pallbearers were his grandsons, David Metcalf, Nathan Metcalf and Jacob Metcalf; his great-grandsons, Jacob Pressley and Nick Pressley and his granddaughter's husband, Tommy Pressley. Tennessee National Guard provided military rites. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery in Erwin, Tennessee.
Cpl. Jesse James Metcalf (1920-2014) was a World War Two Army Veteran. He was a part of Company A 159th Infantry. He was an expert with a Carbine Rifle & a Rifleman Instructor. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star and also the Good Conduct Medal. He entered into service on July 17, 1942 in Oglethrope, Georgia and separated from the Army on Nov. 5, 1945 in Fannin, Texas. He fought in the Aleutian Islands on Attu. His comrades in arms called him "Tennessee" because he came from Erwin, Tennessee. Jesse had hunted in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina as a boy. He was drafted in July 1942. He took his hunting skills with him to the war. He was twenty-one years old. He told me when they sailed from California that he thought he would never return home.
On 11 May 1943, the operation to recapture Attu began. Included with the invasion force were scouts recruited from Alaska, nicknamed Castner's Cutthroats. A shortage of landing craft, unsuitable beaches, and equipment that failed to operate in the appalling weather made it difficult to bring any force against the Japanese. Soldiers suffered from frostbite because essential supplies could not be landed, or could not be moved to where needed because vehicles would not work on the tundra. Led by Colonel Yasuyo Yamasaki, the Japanese defenders did not contest the landings, instead digging in on high ground far from the shore. This resulted in fierce combat, with a total of 3,929 U.S. casualties; 580 men were killed, 1,148 were wounded, and another 1,200 had severe cold injuries. In addition, 614 died of disease, and 318 from miscellaneous causes, mainly Japanese booby traps or friendly fire.
On 29 May, the last of the Japanese forces attacked without warning near Massacre Bay in one of the largest banzai charges of the Pacific campaign. Led by Colonel Yamasaki, the attack penetrated U.S. lines so deeply that it encountered rear-echelon units of the American force. After furious, brutal, often hand-to-hand combat, the Japanese force was virtually exterminated. Only 28 had been willing to be taken prisoner, none of them officers. American burial teams counted 2,351 Japanese dead, but it was thought that hundreds more bodies had been buried by bombardments during the battle.
Jesse James Metcalf, 94, of Reeves Cove Road, Candler, N.C. died Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at Memorial Mission Hospital.
Jesse was born in Yancey County, N.C. on October 21, 1920. He was the son of the late Hobert Edgar Metcalf and Nancy Elizabeth Fox Metcalf and husband of Robbie Edith McIntosh who died on November 24, 2014.
He lived in Erwin, Tennessee in his early years. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 17, 1942 from Unicoi County, Tennessee. He did his basic training in Oglethrope, Georgia. He fought with Company A 159th Infantry in the Aleutian Islands on Attu. His comrades in arms called him "Tennessee" because he came from Tennessee where he hunted as a boy in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina. His hunting skills served him well in the Army. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star and the Good Conduct Medal. He was an expert with a Carbine Rifle and was promoted to Corporal and made a rifle instructor. He separated from the Army at the end of World War II on November 5, 1945. He married Robbie Edith McIntosh on July 26, 1950. Their marriage lasted 64 years until Robbie's death. He worked for the United States Post Office in Erwin, Tennessee, Newport News, Virginia and Asheville, N.C. and retired from a rural route in Bakersville, N.C. in 1983. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was truly part of the "Greatest Generation".
He is survived by his daughters, Brenda Joann Metcalf (Wayne) and Linda Marie Ledford (Eddie); grandchildren, David Metcalf (Heidi), Tara Metcalf Pressley (Tommy), Nathan Metcalf (Amy), Jacob Metcalf, Eddie Ledford II, Amanda Ledford; great-grandchildren, Jacob and Nick Pressley, Ethan and Gavin Major, Marah Metcalf; sisters, Bonnie Marie Shelton and Opal Joann Paramore.
His family will cherish his memory along with his beloved wife, Robbie. They were always together in their life and died close together. We believe they are united again.
His funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 10, 2014 in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, N.C. Rev. Eddie Ledford (his son-in-law) and Rev. Lawrence English (his nephew) officiated. His pallbearers were his grandsons, David Metcalf, Nathan Metcalf and Jacob Metcalf; his great-grandsons, Jacob Pressley and Nick Pressley and his granddaughter's husband, Tommy Pressley. Tennessee National Guard provided military rites. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery in Erwin, Tennessee.
Gravesite Details
WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN.
