Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
BONNER, James R - Date of
birth
8 February 1919 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Rochester, Monroe County, New York -
Hometown
Utica, Oneida County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-1289852 -
Rank
Captain -
Function
Company Commander -
Unit
I Company,
3rd Battalion,
310th Infantry Regiment,
78th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 April 1945 - Place of
death
Kalteiche, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| J | 17 | 9 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Harry Bonner (father)
Bessie (Laney) Bonner (mother)
Harry Bonner (brother)
Charles Bonner (brother)
Albert Bonner (brother)
Katherine Bonner (sister)
Rachel Bonner (sister)
Jean L. (Cahill) Bonner (wife)
More information
Cpt James R. Bonner enlisted in Utica, New York on 6 January 1941.He was shipped out soon after he had married Jean Louise Cahill. He met her in the summer of 1942 when she was attending Skidmore College in upstate NY. She graduated on June 6 and they were married on June 12, 1943.
Kalteich, which consisted of only a few houses, fell without resistance to the 1st Platoon while the 2nd platoon of K Company advanced with Capt. Owens to the next small town, Elkhausen.
The town of Kalteich was located on a bald hill affording the enemy good observation of all movement in the town. Troops from Companies I and M were also in the town with those of Company K and a good target was presented to the enemy. Artillery zeroed in on three houses where many of the men were congregated causing several casualties. Capt. James R. Bonner was mortally hit while reconnoitering in Kalteich to determine the best route to advance his company, Company I.
Source of information: Jean Vijgen, Amanda Julian Johnson, Terry Hirsch, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, http://www.leisuregalleries.com/sahlinblueinfantrymendoc.html - Blue Infantrymen - The Combat History of the Third Battalion - 310th Infantry Regiment
Photo source: Ralph Raymakers, www.findagrave.com - Jean Vijgen, Amanda Julian Johnson