James Hornsby

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart The Purple Heart is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded for military service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Awarded for military service for service within the European-African-MiddleEastern Theater between December 7, 1941 and November 8, 1945.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.

Note 1: The death location, "Luxembourg" is based on the best information available at this time. In the case of PFC Hornsby, this location was not verified by eyewitness statement or U.S. Army After Action Report. Rescarching multiple online sources, this location was estimated on:

A. The Find A Grave website identifying his home state, rank, assigned unit and conflict as: "Alabama Pvt. 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, WWII."

B. 4th Infantry Division records report that in early December 1944 the 4th Infantry Division shifted defensive operations from the Hurtgen Forest to Luxembourg, only to meet the German Army's winter Ardennes Offensive head-on in the Battle of the Bulge starting on 16 December 1944. Although its lines were dented, it managed to hold the Germans at Dickweiler and Osweiler Luxembourg.

C. A Casualty Code of "DOW - Died of Wounds, Army personnel who were wounded in action and later died of those wounds." This would indicate that a wounded Soldier had received some level of treatment from medical personnel before death.

D. There are no military records currently available that corroborate how long PFC Hornsby survived after being wounded in action. Based on this unknown information, a span of days or weeks could significantly change the estimated location of his death.

Anyone with a more specific location is welcomed and encouraged to submit an email to: ww2updates@withmilitaryhonors.com.

The following information on this casualty is sourced from The National Archives Database:
 Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)

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