James E. Cruickshank was born on December 5, 1921 to Mr. and Mrs. James E

Cruickshank, Sr., who lived at 247 Hall Street in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

James attended Phoenixville schools, including Phoenixville High School, located on Nutt Road where the hospital stands today.

James was a member of the St. John’s Reformed Church, located at 315 Gay Street, (today St. John’s Church of Christ - pictured at right).  He was active in the Young Men’s Christian Endeavor both in his church, in which he served as president for one year, and in the North Branch of Chester County Society.   He obtained employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad.

James enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 2, 1942.  After basic training, he was assigned to the 3^rd Marine Division. 

 

 

The 3^rd Division was activated in September 1942 at Camp Elliot, San Diego, California.  They were shipped to Auckland, New Zealand in January 1943.  James’s division was sent to Guadalcanal in June for additional training.  In November, they landed on Bougainville Island and endured costly and intense jungle warfare for the rest of the year.  Bougainville Island is in the Northern Solomon’s, and at the time was part of the Australian territory of New Guinea.

In January 1944, the 3^rd Division was relieved and returned to Guadalcanal for rest and further training.  James’s division landed on the enemy occupied US territory island of Guam in the Marianas on July 21^st.

Corporal James E. Cruickshank was Killed In Action on July 22, 1944.

 

A memorial service was held at St. John’s on Sunday, September 17^th. He was the first fatality of the 68 men in service on the church’s honor roll. Robert Virchsik, President, and R. E. Wallace represented the Young Men’s Christian Endeavor.   Two letters were read honoring his service, including his participation in the attack on Bougainville (a very heavily defended island in the northern Solomon’s).  The church’s pastor, Reverend A. A. Hartman, spoke on the theme, “they shall remember me in a foreign country”.  Floral tributes were presented in honor of James, notably from the W. C. Wright family and the Young Men’s class and teacher Miss Maud Sheeler.  Continuing their remembrance and honoring James during the evening service, Captain J. R. Norton spoke as an Army Chaplin.

James is buried at the Honolulu Memorial Cemetery, in Hawaii.