James J. Manning was born in 1924 to James and Ida Hatfield Manning who lived in Middletown, Delaware, between Wilmington and Dover.  He was the youngest son of four children: Albert, Mary, James and Thelma.  His father, James was a farmer, and originally from Maryland, his mother, Ida was from Pennsylvania.

 His parents moved the family to Pennsylvania to live on Kimbleville Road, in Elk Township, Pennsylvania, between Oxford and Avondale.  In 1934, they moved to Cedar Knoll, located above Coatesville.

 James attended the Lafayette school, and later obtained employment as a truck driver for Oscar Reeser, of Manor Road.  He then left to work at Lukens Steel Company in Coatesville as a crane operator.  His father passed away when he was a teenager.His family moved to live with Mrs. Catherine Davidson at 323 Graham Avenue.

 James enlisted in the Army on May 7, 1943, and received basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.  He was shipped to the European Theater, to North Africa in November.

He was assigned to the 168^th Regiment,  34th Infantry Division in Marc Clarks famed 5^th Army, the same Division that Hero Francis Lyons served.

 James’ Regiment then landed in Italy and fought in Naples. His Regiment landed at the Anzio beachhead in March.  Our troops first landed in January, but the fighting was long and ferocious, and we had just defeated another German counterattack.  

 His last letter home, written from the Beachhead, James wrote: “This sure is a hot place, but we boys never complain.”

 Private First Class James J. Manning Jr. was Killed In Action on May 30, 1944 in Anzio, Italy.

 On June 21^st, his mother, Ida, received a telegram that James was Missing In Action. She was then residing with Mrs. Catherine Davidson at 323 Graham Ave, in Coatesville.  She later received word that James was Killed In Action.

 James was buried locally in the United States Military Cemetery in Nuttuno, Italy.  After the war, he was disinterred for burial in his mother country.

 Funeral Services were held at the Archie S. Maclean’s Funeral Home, with the Reverend Richard L. Bunting of Wagontown Chapel, officiated.  Members of the Sahler-Sedan VFW Post in Coatesville, served as pallbearers and rendered military honors.   James was buried at the Fairview Cemetery on Oak Street in Coatesville, on August 7, 1948, with full military honors.