1LT James Robeson Myers

courtesy of D. Graham

1LT James Robeson Myers was born 7 Apr 1919 in Tar Heel, North Carolina which had been his family's "seat" for about 200-years. He was the son of Patrick Henry and Mary Eliza (Robeson) Myers. His father was a civil engineer who reported a 1939 income of $6000. The family had lived for some time during the 1920s and 1930s in Honduras where his father worked for a fruit company. James was not employed when he registered for the draft in 1940.

We think that James was commissioned as a 2LT in April 1941. What assignments he had before being assigned to L Company 116th Infantry we do not know. It seems that he was assigned to L Company on 1 Jun 1944 as one of the officer plus-ups intended to ensure that at least some officers survived the landings to lead the units inland. 1LT Myers was wounded and sent to hospital on the 7 Jun 1944. He was returned to the unit on 12 Aug 1944 to serve as Commanding Officer (CO). On 31 Aug 1944 he was reassigned to I Company 116th Infantry to serve as the CO there. 1LT Myers was killed in action on 8 Sep 1944 in the attack on Brest, France.

1LT Myers is buried in the Brittany American Cemetery and there is a cenotaph for him in Beth Car Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Tar Heel, North Carolina.

Grandfather, William Winfield Scott Myers, served in K Company 4th Georgia Cavalry (CSA). Great grandfather COL Thomas Robeson Jr served in the Revolution and Robeson County, North Carolina is named for him.