PVT James E. Payette

courtesy of Dominique Potier

PVT James E. Payette was born 26 Apr 1925 in River Forest, Illinois. He was the youngest of the 6 children born to Wilfred Joseph and Lillian Mary (Reagan) Payette. In 1930 his father was working as a private chauffeur and the family lived at 338 Lathrop Avenue in River Forest. James attended Oak Park River Forest High School.

James was drafted and after completing his basic military training was sent to England and assigned to E Company 116th Infantry. He was assigned to that unit on 5 Jun 1944 when the unit boarded the transports for the amphibious invasion of occupied France. PVT Payette was wounded on 6 Jun 1944 in the amphibious landing and died of his wound(s) the next day, 7 Jun 1944.

PVT Payette rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.