Private First Class J. L. Bridges 14188402 KIA

Private First Class J. L. Bridges 14188402 US Army KIA. He was born on December 24, 1923 the son of Horace Bridges, from Swainsville, Cleveland County, North Carolina. He enlisted on December 8, 1942, at Fort Bragg North Carolina, at the age of 18. He served in 3rd Platoon F Company, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry division. He was killed in action on February 24, 1945 at the age of 21. He was most likely killed by American artillery. The artillery was called in short and it was the cause of most of the wounds received that day for 3^rd and 4^th platoon. With that said many men did receive bullet wounds from the Germans on that day as well. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal (PHM), the Combat Infantry Badge, the European Theater of Operations Medal, the American Theater of Operations Medal, and the World War Two Victory Medal. His body was returned to North Carolina in 1950.

 

1- 63^rd Division Records

2- Photograph from Robert Wilson

3- U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963

4- https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&q=14188402&bc=sd&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=982008