Army Private Jack D. Helton was born in Florida on June 22, 1922 however there is no information as to his parentage. We do know that his educational level was that of grammar school and that he enlisted in the US Army on October 28, 1941 at Ft. Barrancas. Following his processing and basic training he was assigned to the 39th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division. Soon, it was time to go to war therefore the regiment embarked for North Africa and landed on the beaches of Algiers on November 8, 1942. Here they were dispatched over a three-hundred mile coastline between Algiers and Tunisia to guard the Allied supply line.
The 39th took a decidedly more active role in the war when they were deployed east of the famed “Kasserine Pass” as a covering force for the 1st Armored Division. This was followed quickly by successive battles in the final drive to Bizerte. Thus it was at El Guettar, where the 9th Infantry Division fought against a well-entrenched enemy who also enjoyed air superiority. The terrain was comprised of steep and rugged hills with eroded gorges that provided a natural fortress. The 9th and 1st Divisions were ordered to seize opposite sides of the El Guettar Pass, which in turn would allow the 1st Armored Division to roll through without having to worry about their flanks.
On March 28, 1943, the 47th Infantry Regiment were in position to seize their first objective, strategic Hill #369. However, that's when everything went wrong. Units were out of position or became lost in the maze of hills and gorges while communication was non-existent. With Hill #369 still in German hands, the American attack totally bogged down. Within the area held by the 9th Division was Hill #772, but for some reason the American troops left it totally undefended as the Germans took the opportunity to reoccupy it. The 9th Division commander soon realized that Hill #369 could only be taken by recapturing Hill 772. For five days, the battle raged in an attempt to break through the El Guettar Pass with each attack made by the 39th Infantry Regiment. It was most likely here that Private Jack D. Helton was shot in the head and killed. He was rushed to an aid station but all to no avail! He was handed over to the graves registration unit and buried in a temporary military cemetery while the proper telegrams were sent to his next of kin in Pensacola.
Jack would be returned home in February 1949, per the request of his family, aboard the SS Corporal Eric G. Gibson. After processing by the Army, Jack was shipped home on the L&N rail line arriving in Pensacola on March 8th. The address listed as his next of kin was 102 West Liberty Street (Zarragossa Street), the home of James D. and Ruby A. Helton. James was a taxi cab driver for the Brownsville Taxi Company. His parents are listed as George W. Helton (1878-1928) and Alice Joyce Skillman (1896-1928). Since both parents died early this may explain why Jack's parentage is never mentioned. In the meantime, Jack was buried in Barrancas National Cemetery the next day with full military honors.
Comments