Lt. Col. Leon James, Reunion 2004
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Lt. Col. Leon James, Reunion 2004
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Lt. Col. Leon G. James II, of Sackets
Harbor, N.Y. commanded the 3rd Battalion, 314th Regiment
of the 2nd Brigade, 78th Division (Training Support)
based at Fort Drum, N.Y.
Lt. Col. James
died October 10, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center,
Md., from wounds sustained in a September 26 attack
in Iraq.
2004 Color Guard |
Unlike the majority of the United
States Army’s Regiments of World War II, the
314th Infantry Regiment was reactivated in 1947 and
has continued to exist as part of today’s United
States Army. In 2009 the 1st Battalion of the 314th
Regiment, Infantry, and the 3rd Infantry Battalion
of the 314th Regiment, Field Artillery are part of
the 174th Infantry Brigade based in Fort Drum, NY.
Components of the 314th have served in Iraq in support
of what the US Army refers to as “theater strategic
objectives.”
Service Members of Today’s 314th Who Were Killed
in Action in IRAQ and Their Families:
The 314th Infantry Regiment still
exists as an active Regiment in today’s United
States Army, and it has been the privilege of our
World War II veterans to have an Honor Guard of today’s
314th attend our annual reunions.
At our 2004 reunion in Gatlinburg,
Tennessee today’s US Army’s 314th honored
the WWII 314th Veterans by the appearance of their
Honor Guard including Lt Colonel Leon James and senior
NCO’s of the 314th. In 2005 components of today’s
314th deployed to Iraq. Tragically, in 2005 Lt Colonel
James as well as Master Sergeant Tulsa T. Tuliau,
Sergeant 1st Class Casey E. Howe and Sergeant 1st
Class Michael A. Benson were killed in action in the
service of our country.
Lt. Colonel James left behind his
wife Sylvia and their 3 daughters. Sergeant Howe was
survived by his Wife and 4 young children, Sergeant
Tuliau; a Wife and 2 children and Sergeant Benson
was survived by his Wife.
Unlike any of our past reunions,
in 2009 the 314th Infantry Association WW II has decided
that our special guests of honor will include the
four wives and nine children of Lt. Col. James, Sergeants
Howe, Tuliau and Benson. We want them to be aware
that this country will not forget their sacrifice
and we want them to enjoy a very special vacation
on the sunny sands of Daytona Beach, Florida.
Honoring the Fallen by Deeds not Words and Our Goal
On Memorial day many people pay
lip service to the sacrifices of our service members
and their families, but are words enough? We felt
that a tangible thank you in the form of deeds not
words was the appropriate way to honor them for the
ultimate sacrifice, but the WW II veteran members
of Reunion and their families cannot do this without
your help. With your help we can cover all costs including
airfare so that wives and nine children of Lt. Col.
James, Sergeants Howe, Tuliau and Bensonto can attend
the 2009 Reunion in Daytona Beach and enjoy the sun
and sand at the world's most famous beach.
Consider this Internet posting to
the family of Lt. Col James which is as relevant today
as it is to the predecessors in the 314th just three
generations ago in WW II:
“If this person can stand
in battle to ensure my freedom, then I will stand
in grief with his or her family to honor him or her.
For every fallen hero there is a bright star that
shines in the evening sky to remind us of the cherished
gift we were given – even if for too short a
time. My heart breaks again as I sign yet another
guest book of another courageous young soldier who
gave their life so selflessly. I wish I never found
myself in a position to have to sign another guest
book for the rest of my life, but I promised Le Ron
A. Wilson (a dear friend KIA July 6, 2007, 18 yrs
old) that neither he nor any like him would be forgotten
and so I will continue until the day there is no longer
the need.”
-- Althea Barrett, Queens, NY, PROUD
MOTHER OF A UNITED STATES SOLDIER
By inviting the families of Lt Col
Leon James, Master Sgt Tulsa T. Tuliau, Sgt 1st Class
Casey E. Howe and Sgt 1st Class Michael A. Benson,
not only our WW II Veterans but you make the 2009
reunion a special event. It is our hope that through
donations this will be possible; what better way
for each of you to show the families of these brave
men that a grateful nation remembers?
Our reunion costs in 2009 will therefore
far exceed our normal ability to cover them. With
this devastating economy, we realize this isn’t
the best time. But then as one of our WW II veterans
said “What value is there to a sacrifice
if it isn’t something that’s hard to do
at the time?” Tragically the cost to our
nation remains high with each precious life lost.
The impact that those losses have is not only to them,
their families and friends but to our nation as a
whole.
Your donation payable to "314th Infantry Association
WW II, Inc." in any amount is greatly appreciated
and since we are a non-profit organiztion your donation
is tax deductible under Section 501 (c) (19). We would
also appreciate the donation of nice items that can
be raffled and these items are also tax deductible
charitable donations.
Feel free to contact : Eric V. Gill
at (386) 788 1776 weekdays (Monday through Wednesday),
best.
Also cell (386) 547-1488 by chance and by email to
ericgill4393@gmail.com
or by US mail to 4393 Ridgewood Ave, Port Orange,
Florida 32127.
Very truly yours,
Eric V. Gill,
2009 Reunion Chair and
the WW II veterans of the
314th Infantry Regiment
