Willy F. James Jr. facts for kids

Willy F. James Jr. (born March 18, 1920 – died April 8, 1945) was a brave soldier in the United States Army. He was a Private First Class during World War II. He sadly died while trying to help his wounded leader.

In 1997, he received the Medal of Honor. This is the highest award for bravery in the U.S. military. He earned it for his actions on April 7, 1945, in Germany. Willy James Jr. was one of seven Black American soldiers. They were finally given the Medal of Honor for their service in World War II. This happened on January 12, 1997.

President Bill Clinton presented the medal. It was given to James's family on January 13, 1997. This ceremony took place at the White House. These seven soldiers were the first and only Black Americans. They received the Medal of Honor for their bravery in World War II.

A Brave Soldier's Story

Willy James was born in Kansas City, Missouri. His birthday was March 18, 1920. He joined the U.S. Army on September 11, 1942.

In April 1945, he was a scout. He helped lead the way for his unit. His unit was the 413th Infantry Regiment. They were part of the 104th Infantry Division. On April 7, they were trying to secure a bridge in Germany. As his group crossed a river, enemy machine gun fire trapped him. He was stuck for over an hour.

After returning, James helped plan a new attack. Later, he saw his leader get shot. Enemy snipers had hit him. James bravely went to help his lieutenant. As he ran across open ground, he was killed by machine gun fire. He was honored for his amazing courage. He received the Distinguished Service Cross after he died.

Pfc. James was buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial. This cemetery is in Margraten, Netherlands. His grave is in plot P, row 9, grave 9.

Recognizing Heroes

In the early 1990s, people realized something unfair. Black soldiers had not been considered for the Medal of Honor. This was because of their race. In 1993, the U.S. Army asked Shaw University to study this. They wanted to see if there was unfairness in how awards were given.

The study found that Black soldiers were often treated differently. They did not get the same chances for awards. After a lot of research, the study suggested something. It recommended that ten Black Americans from World War II should get the Medal of Honor.

In October 1996, a law was passed. This allowed President Clinton to give these awards. Seven of the ten soldiers were approved. Willy F. James Jr. was one of them. Their previous awards were upgraded to the Medal of Honor. On January 13, 1997, President Clinton presented the medals. James's widow accepted the medal for him.

Military Awards

Willy James Jr. received several important awards. These show his bravery and service.

Honoring His Memory

On November 4, 2001, a special building was named after him. It is the 7th U.S. Army Reserve Command Center. It is located in Bamberg, Germany. This center helps support military operations. Naming it after Pfc. Willy F. James Jr. honors his sacrifice.

Images for kids

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  The grave of Willy F. James Jr. in the Netherlands.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
• List of African American Medal of Honor recipients