George Johnson James was born May 7, 1916 to his father Henry in Upton, Kentucky. Mother's name is unknown at this time. George enlisted April 14, 1943 in Roanoke, Virginia. His original hometown is listed as Mt Pleasant, Michigan, but he was living in Blacksburg, Virginia when he enlisted as Apprentice Seaman. At that time, he had two sisters, Helen and Mary.
National Archive records show that George was stateside in training as Hospital Apprentice 2nd Class, then 1st Class in April, 1944 in Camp Lejeune. In mid to late 1944, he made Pharmacist Mate Third Class with the 22nd Marines in the HQ Company of the 3rd Bn. Medical Company. He was killed in action in Okinawa and was initially buried in the Sixth Marine Division Cemetery on Okinawa.
George's group includes his officially engraved Type 2 posthumous Purple Heart with its short titled presentation case, plus internet research and copies of his service record from the National Archives.
