Name: James Alton Faulkingham Rank: Corporal Service Number: 333113 Service: Company C, 1st Amphibious Tractor Battalion, 3rd Amphibious Corps, United States Marine Corps Awards: Navy Cross, Purple Heart Date of Birth: November 11, 1920 Place of Birth: Bangor, Penobscot Co., Maine Date of Enlistment: January 28, 1942 Place of Enlistment: Maine Address at Enlistment: Bangor, Penobscot Co., Maine Age at Enlistment: 21 Occupation: Laborer Marital Status: Single Next of Kin: Stewart A Faulkingham (Father) Date of Death: September 17, 1944 Age: 23 Memorial: Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Philippines Reference: Walls of the Missing, Memorial James was the son of Stewart Aaron Faulkingham (1897-1955), and Louise (Williams) Faulkingham (1897- 1973). His father was born in LaHave, Lunenburg Co., Nova Scotia and his mother was born in New Brunswick. His siblings were Louise Agnes Faulkingham (1919-2007), Ella Grace Faulkingham (1922-2006), Pearl Frances Faulkingham (1924-1961), and Leo Stewart Faulkingham (1926-1990). James was named after his grandfather James Alton Faulkingham (1873-1940), born in LaHave, Lunenburg Co. His father served as a Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class in the US Navy in World War I from April 12, 1917 to July 9, 1919 including service on the USS Vermont (Service No. 1502152). His brother Leo enlisted on July 7, 1943, at the age of 17, in World War II. Leo served as a Machinist's Mate Third Class in the U.S. Navy’s 63rd Construction Battalion, of the Navy Construction Battalion Corps known as the Seabees, which included a deployment to the Aleutian Islands. James grew up in the family home at 310 Grove Street in Bangor, and attended the Abraham Lincoln Grammar School until 1935, and attended Bangor High School, graduating in 1939. The family’s recollection is that James signed up to serve on December 17, 1941 in Maine; ten days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Following the attack on December 7, 1941, recruiting stations were completely overwhelmed. When Corporal Faulkingham went to join on December 17, he filled out his paperwork, passed his initial physical, and was accepted into the Marine Corps. Because of the large number of volunteers in December 1941, the military could not physically process, swear in, or transport men to recruit depots, including Parris Island, immediately. Men were often accepted, told they were in the Marines, and then placed on a waiting list or sent home for a few weeks until training capacity opened up. In James’ case, he officially enlisted January 28, 1942, in Boston, Massachusetts. James joined the 6th Recruit Battalion for initial training at Parris Island, near Beaufort, South Carolina, and was also stationed in New River, North Carolina, as a ground unit crewman. Later, he was promoted to Corporal and became a crew chief. He was transferred to San Francisco, California prior to being deployed in the Pacific theatre of war. He served with Company C of the 1st Amphibious Tractor Battalion in the 3rd Amphibious Corps. Operation Forager was the overarching strategic U.S. military offensive in the Pacific Theater, executed between June and November 1944, with the primary objective of capturing the Mariana Islands (specifically Saipan, Guam, and Tinian) and the Palau Islands to secure vital airfields and sea lanes for the push toward the Philippines. Within that broader framework, the assault on Peleliu Island (Operation Stalemate 2) took place from September to November 1944.Corporal James Alton Faulkingham and the 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion fought in a critical flanking role to protect the lower right flank of the American forces advancing on the Philippines. James fought in the Battle of Peleliu, and died of wounds from a mine in Palau, on September 17, 1944. For his actions, James was awarded the US Navy’s highest honor, the Navy Cross. The details of the Medal being ordered are as follows. Commander in Chief Pacific Forces, March 8, 1945: The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal James Alton Faulkingham (MCSN: 333113), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Amphibian Tractor Crew Chief serving with the First Amphibian Tractor Battalion, Third Amphibious Corps, Fleet Marine Force, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Peleliu Island, Palau Group, from 15 to 17 September 1944. Taken under fire by a superior number of Japanese snipers while engaged in carrying supplies to the front lines through heavily mined terrain, Corporal Faulkingham fought valiantly in the face of tremendous odds. Upon observing the approach of a hostile tank, firing savagely on our infantrymen, he unhesitatingly charged the weapon, disabling it with a fifty-caliber machine gun, shooting the turret gunner with a carbine and completing the destruction by hurling a hand grenade directly into the enemy tank. Although injured during this encounter, Corporal Faulkingham continued his mission of moving urgently needed supplies through the mined areas partially controlled by the Japanese until 17 September when he sustained severe wounds during the explosion of his tank by a hostile mine. His daring aggressiveness and cool courage in the face of grave peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. James’ Naval Cross was presented to his mother in 1946. James, buried at sea, is memorialized on the Panels of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines. He is also remembered on the Bangor WWII War Memorial, and the Purple Heart

Source: US Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958 findagrave.com honorstates.org YouTube video - James Alton Faulkingham