1st Lt. James Bernard Manning was born in Washburn, Wisconsin, to John F. Manning and Daisy E. Burt-Manning. He grew up in Washburn and graduated high school there. At some point, he moved to Oak Park, Illinois, and lived with his sister, Ann Tomaso, and her husband at 221 Lemoyne Parkway, Oak Park, Illinois. He was the only staff member of Proviso Township High School to have died in World War II, having worked in the school district starting in 1939..
When the Selective Service Act took effect on October 16, 1940, he registered for the draft and named his sister as his contact person. He also indicated he was living at 7742 West Monroe Street in Forest Park, Illinois. It was reported in newspapers that he was the first man in the Midwest to qualify for military service through Selective Service. While working at Proviso, he enlisted in the US Army on November 18, 1940, at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. He was issued the serial number 36 000 001.
After Jim enlisted, he tested and qualified to attend Officers Candidates School and was sent to Fort Custer, Michigan, where he successfully completed his classes and resigned as an enlisted man and received a commission as a second lieutenant. His new serial number was O 1 283 990. It is not known where he trained after attending OCS, but he married Daisy Elstner in Florida on April 29, 1943. At some point, he was assigned to the 313th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division, which was formed at Camp Pickett, Virginia on June 15, 1942. It then moved to Camp Laguna, Arizona, for desert training. The division was next sent to Camp Phillips, Kansas, for winter training. In April 1944, the 79th was ordered to Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts, for embarkation to England.
The 79th arrived in Liverpool, Great Britain, on April 17, 1944, and trained. It was sent to France and landed at Utah Beach on June 12th to 14th. Once the entire division had landed and it was ready, it saw its first combat on June 19, 1944, when it attacked the high ground west and northwest of Valognes. At the same time, it attacked the high ground south of Cherbourg and entered Cherbourg on the 25th. On June 26, 1944, during the 27th’s assault on Fort du Roule, La Basse-Normandie, Cherbourg-Octeville, that he was killed, while eating lunch in a field, when he was hit by shrapnel in his face, arm and neck. The next day, he was buried at Saint Mere Eglise #2, in Plot F, Row 2, Grave 25.
His wife received a telegram from the War Department.
MRS DAISY MANNING
3527 PALONIA
SARASOTA FLORIDA
THE SECRETARY OF WAR HIS DEEPEST REGRET THAT YOUR HUSBAND FIRST LIEUTENANT JAMES B MANNING WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON TWENTY SIX JUNE IN FRANCE LETTER FOLLOWS
ULIO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
It is not known when Daisy Manning received the letter or what it content was.
His wife received several letters from the War Department after the war. It is known that Daisy remarried on April 20, 1945, which forfeited her status of his next of kin. The Office of the Quartermaster General was unaware that she had remarried and continued to send correspondence to her. It was only when she sent back the Disposition of Remains form to the OQMG that it became aware of her remarrying. At that time, his sister became his next of kin. She was sent the same form and indicated that her brother should be buried in an American Military Cemetery overseas.
Jim was disinterred and his remains were sent Casketing Point B, St. Laurent, France. In March 1949, 1st Lt. James B. Manning was buried, with full military honors, in Plot A, Row 18, Grave 20, at the St. Laurent US Military Cemetery (now the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France). He was posthumously awarded the Purple heart and Silver Star. His sister was sent the flag used on his casket and a letter.
1st Lt. James B. Manning, ASN 01 283 990
Plot A, Row 18, Grave 20
Headstone: Cross
St. Laurent (France) U. S. Military Cemetery
Mrs. Ann M. Tomaso
221 Lemoyne Parkway
Oak Park, Illinois
This is to inform you that the remains of your beloved ones have been permanently interred, as the recorded above, side by side with comrades who also gave their lives for their country. Customary military funeral services were conducted over the grave at the time of burial.
After the Department of the Army has completed all final interments, the cemetery will be transferred, as authorized by the Congress, to the care and supervision of the American Battle Monuments Commission. The commission will also have the responsibility for permanent construction and beautification of the cemetery, including erection of the permanent headstone. The headstone will be inscribe with the name exactly recorded above, the rank or rating where appropriate, organization, State, and date of death. Any inquiries relative to the type of headstone or the spelling of the name to be inscribed thereon, should be addressed to the American Battle Monuments Commission, Washington 25, D. C. Your letter should include the full name, rank, serial number, grave location, and name of the cemetery.
While interment and beautification activities are in progress, the cemetery will not be open to visitors. You may rest assured that this final interment was conducted with fitting dignity and solemnity and that the grave-site will be carefully and conscientiously maintained in perpetuity by the United States Government.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
H. FELDMAN
Major General
The Quartermaster General
