Photo taken at Fort Benning, GA around Feb 1942
NAME: James Howard Hardy
ASN: O-390713
PLACE OF BIRTH: Jackson, MS
DATE OF BIRTH: 12 Jan 1919
DATES OF SERVICE: ?1940 - 21 Dec 1944
UNIT ASSIGNED:
HHC, 504th Parachute Battalion
B Company, 504th Parachute Battalion
F Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment
F Company, 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment
423rd Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division
CAMPAIGNS: Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace
AWARDS: Parachutist Badge with two Combat Jump Stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with one arrowhead and four campaign stars, WWII Victory Medal, 3rd Zouaves Regiment Badge
SUMMARY OF SERVICE:
12 Jan 1919 - Born in Jackson, MS to Adolphus and Mamie Lou Hardy hometowm of Ecru, MS. His father worked for the railroad and his mother tended the farm and the children.
Younger sister Sarah was born
Graduated from Ecru High School
Member of the Ecru Baptist Church
Member of the Cherry Creek Masonic Lodge
1936 - Played semi-pro baseball, Pontotocs. Known as Howard 'Hotsie' Hardy.
1940 - Graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelors degree in Business.
1940 - Accepted a Commission in the US Army and assigned to the 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Division at Fort McClelland.
1940 - Met his future wife Margret Lane from Anniston, AL. They soon married.
1941 - Volunteered for the paratroops.
25 Dec 1941 - 1st Lt. James H. Hardy O-390713 HHC, 504th PB Special Duty Attachment listed in Christmas dinner program.
01 Feb 1942 - 1st Lt. James H. Hardy O-390713 B Co, 504th PB Platoon Leader Ecru, MS listed in graduation annual.
24 Feb 1942 - Assigned to F Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment with the redesignation of the 504th PB.
29 Mar 1942 - Moved to Fort Bragg with the 2nd Bn, 503rd PIR.
05 Jun 1942 - Departs for England with the 2nd Bn, 503rd PIR.
10 June 1942 - Arrives in Glasgow, Scotland and stationed at Chilton Foliat, England with 2nd Bn, 503rd PIR.
02 November 1942 - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR is reorganized and redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment while in England per AG 320.2 (11-3 42)
08 Nov 1942 - 1st Lt. James H. Hardy O-390713 F Co, 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Ecru, MS Participated in Operation TORCH (VILLIAN) the invasion of North Africa, Plane: 7 Seat: 1 Combat Weight: 277 lbs.
15 Nov 1942 - 1st Lt. James H. Hardy O-390713 F Co, 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Ecru, MS Participated in Combat Jump at Youks les Baines, Africa.
1st Lt. James H. Hardy O-390713 Ecru, MS listed on page 388 in the book Stand in the Door by Charles H. Doyle and Terrell Stewart
1943 - Returned to the US.
29 Mar 1944 - Moved to Camp Atterbury, IN with the 423rd Infantry Regiment.
08 Jun 1944 - Daughter Diane was born at Camp Atterbury, IN.
10 Oct 1944 - Staged at Camp Myles Standish, MA.
16 Oct 1944 - Moved to Exch. Jersey, NJ.
17 Oct 1944 - Departed New York Port of Embarkation.
22 Oct 1944 - Arrived England.
05 Dec 1944 - Arrived France.
10 Dec 1944 - Entered Belgium relieving units of the 2nd Infantry Division on the line.
19 Dec 1944 - At 0930, Capt. James H. Hardy, O-390713, Company Commander, M Company, 423rd Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division, Killed in Action vicinity of Schnee Eifel, Belgium from heavy artillery fire.
21 Dec 1944 - Buried Plot F, Row 13, Grave 13 at Henry Chapelle American Military Cemetery, Belgium.
(ALL IMAGES AND INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE IS PROPERTY OF THE FAMILY AND MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT PERMISSION. PLEASE CONTACT THE WEBMASTER AT THE E-MAIL BELOW)
©2006 509thgeronimo.org. All Rights Reserved.