A 36th Division Field Phone Operator killed at Selestat one day after his Twentieth Birthday

January 28

A 36th Division phone operator and rifleman who died of terrible wounds received in the attack on Selestat, France the day after his twentieth birthday.

His full story here: https://www.36thdivisionarchive.com/pa-36-ownbey

A native of Kirksville, Missouri, James F. Ownbey worked at the local International Shoe plant until he was drafted in 1943. He spent many months as an early member of the 66th Infantry Division, but in June 1944 received orders to go overseas as a replacement. He was sent to Italy then France, where he was sent up to the Vosges to join E Company, 2nd Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment on September 24, 1944.

The majority of October he spent alongside the 442nd RCT trying to take the major divisional targets of Bruyeres and Biffontaine while pushing German forces back through the nearby mountains and valleys. The advance broke apart the German line and continued on into November against pockets of German forces ordered to delay the Americans.

In late November the 142nd had a breakthrough by capturing the town of St. Marie-Aux-Mines, opening a valley entrance into Alsace. While the 142nd worked from the south through forested mountains, James’ battalion was attached to them and tasked with going through the valley itself. Breaking through numerous German roadblocks and delaying forces, after three days of intense fighting they finally reached the town of Chatenois on the edge of Alsace on December 1, just west of their primary target, Selestat. Meeting with 3/142 in Chatenois, 2/143 decided to assault eastward that afternoon to reach the outer limits of Selestat.

Once they got close, the German defenders opened up with small arms, mortars, and heavy artillery, causing over a dozen casualties. James was among them, severely wounded by artillery shrapnel to his forehead, face, neck, and abdomen. He was evacuated to the 11th Field Hospital and underwent surgery to try and save his life. Tragically, he succumbed to his wounds on December 4, 1944.

After identification by one of his close friends in his platoon, he was buried in a temporary army cemetery in Hochfelden before going back home to his family cemetery in Missouri in 1948, arriving exactly four years to the day after his death.