US Army PFC James "Jimmie" Charles Lee was born in McDavid, Florida on March 10, 1929, the son of John Wesley Lee (1897-1964) and Emma Frances Brown (1905-2003). His father supported his family in 1940 as a laborer on a road construction crew for the government's WPA project. While growing up, Jimmie attended the schools in Bratt until 1937, at which time he began listing himself as a farm laborer for his dad in McDavid while living in the family home at Rt. 1 Box 124.
He gave up farming in September 1947 and enlisted in the Army and was sent to Ft. Jackson, SC. Upon completion of his basic training, he left for overseas duty in February 1948. When he arrived, he was sent to the 19th Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division to perform the duties of an occupational force in Japan after WWII. Then came the surprise invasion of the North Korean army into South Korea in the early morning hours of June 25, 1950. His regiment, along with the 34th, was rushed to Korea and began to arrive on July 4th. They were thrown piecemeal into the onslaught as the American and South Korean armies were being overwhelmed on the battlefield. Their only purpose was to delay the North Korean advance until more help could arrive. However, they were forced to fight a losing battle without artillery, heavy mortars or even air support. As soon as they took a stand they were outflanked and overrun by the enemy.
By July 13th, the 34th and 19th Infantry regiments, were defending a 34-mile-line on the Kum River. Preparing to attack the 34th at Kongju was 5,000 to 6,000 enemy troops backed by twenty tanks. An equivalent number was also moving to attack the 19th regiment, but the two regiments together only equaled less than 2,000 soldiers. Facing annihilation, they were forced to fall back and regroup. On July 19, the 34th regiment had fallen back again and was positioned along the Kapchon River west of Taejon, astride the Kongju Road. Again, they fell back to Taejon. In the ensuing battle of Taejon, the North Koreans began by pouring artillery rounds into the town. Soon fires were blazing everywhere in spite of the heavy rainfall. To prevent Taejon's loss, the depleted 34th regiment and two battalions of the 19th Regiment tried to hold off two entire enemy divisions that charged into the outskirts of the town. The battle lasted for two days as the two regiments did their best to cover the withdrawal of the newly arrived 25th Division. But the outcome was predictable even though they had held to the very last. During the fighting on July 20th, McDavd's own James Charles Lee was killed in action with his regiment. Not far away, the 34th Regiment was in their own slugfest as they were being overwhelmed by the same enemy divisions. There two, the town of Jay lost one of their own on the same day. Army PFC Raymond Joseph Settle was killed in action as both men stood up against impossible odds.
Back home his family was overjoyed to get a letter from him on Saturday, August 19th! Less than 24-hours later they received a telegram from Washington informing him that he had been missing in action since July 20th. As the battle lines shifted back and forth, his body had been discovered and was buried in a temporary military cemetery. His family was finally notified that his remains would be arriving on Wednesday July 25, 1951. His was given full military honors and buried in the Godwin Cemetery in Bratt, Escambia County, Florida.
댓글