James Lee Harrington's Obituary
U.S. Army Pvt. James Lee Harrington, age 21, of Cincinnati, passed away June 6, 1944 in Normandy, France as part of the operations to land on Omaha Beach on D-Day. After 81 years, he will be buried in his final resting place on June 6, 2025 at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Cincinnati, next to his mother and grandparents.
James was born on March 26, 1923 in Cincinnati, Iowa, the son of Leander and Bertha (Buck) Harrington. In 1925, James began living with his grandparents, James Samuel "Sam" and Margaret A. "Addie" (John) Buck. His mother, Bertha passed away on October 11, 1927 when James was 4 years old, and he continued to live with his grandparents. His grandfather passed away in 1933, and Addie continued to raise James throughout his adolescent years. While attending Cincinnati High School, James played the Cornet and the Piano, and he was very involved in drama. During an interview, he admitted that he had an aversion to reading or studying, but spent a lot of his time in a store uptown, making sure a young lady's counter stayed straight. James graduated from Cincinnati High School with the Class of 1940. He continued his education at the Junior College in Centerville, graduating in 1942. In September of 1942, James began teaching at South Wilson High School in Numa.
On February 22, 1943, James enlisted in the United States Army, and was inducted on March 1, 1943. He went through training at Camp McCain, Miss., Ft. Pierce, Florida and Camp Pickett, VA. He went overseas the latter part of December 1943, and was stationed in England for a period of time. James was a member of Company A, 149th Engineer Combat Battalion. They were on Landing Craft, Infantry 92 headed for the beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944. It struck an underwater mine, causing the craft to burst into flames. Enemy artillery fire also struck the craft, causing an explosion that ignited the ship's fuel supply, immediately killing everyone in the troop compartment. The last letter from James was written on the morning of June 6, stating he had gotten up at 2:30 to call the boys out of their barracks. He was killed in action later that day.
In January of 1945, Addie received a telegram from the government. It stated, "The Secretary of War asks me to assure you of his deep sympathy in the loss of your grandson, Private First-Class James L. Harrington, who was previously reported missing in action. Reports now received state he was killed in action June 6 in France confirming letter follows."
The burnt remains of the servicemen were found in the troop compartment and recovered on June 10, 1944. They were first buried at the United States Military Cemetery St. Laurent-sur-Mer. In 1946, the American Graves Registration Command examined the remains and separated them into four separate Unknowns. Efforts to identify the Unknowns were unsuccessful and they were interred in the Normandy American Cemetery in France. The DPAA and officials with the American Battle Monuments Commission exhumed the remains in 2021 and scientists from the DPAA laboratory conducted anthropological analysis. The mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome DNA were further analyzed by scientists with the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System in order to identify James Harrington's remains. The DOD says he was accounted for on August 21, 2023.
Left to honor James' memory are his nephew, Shawn Phillips; his great nephew, Matthew Phillips; as well as extended family members.
James was preceded in death by his parents, L.S. and Bertha Harrington; his grandparents, Sam and Addie Buck; as well as numerous extended family and friends.
Graveside services for James will be held at 11:00AM, Friday, June 6, 2025 at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Cincinnati, Iowa. Full military rites will be conducted at this time. For anyone that would like to honor Mr. Harrington and cannot attend the service, please stand along the sidewalks of Highway 5 beginning at 10:30AM on Friday, as we process to the cemetery led by Thomas Funeral Home, the Patriot Guard Riders, American Legion Riders, Active Military, and the Centerville American Legion. Condolences may be shared online at www.thomasfh.com or www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome.
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