WWII Soldier Biography: PFC James A. Truesdale – Killed in Action on Okinawa (April 2, 1945)
Remembering PFC James A. Truesdale
Eighty-one years ago today, on April 2, 1945, Private First Class James Alexander Truesdale of B Company, 383rd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division was killed in action during the Battle of Okinawa. His story—reconstructed through Individual Deceased Personnel Files (IDPFs), unit morning reports, troop rosters, Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) and Army general orders obtained from the National Archives—offers a powerful example of how WWII military records preserve the legacy of America’s fallen.
Early Life of a WWII Soldier
James Alexander Truesdale was born on August 29, 1914, in Fort Worth, Texas. Prior to World War II, he lived in Los Angeles, California, where he worked and built a family life.
Draft registration records show he resided at 605 East Washington Boulevard and was employed at 7201 South San Pedro Street. He was married to Margaret Truesdale, and together they had a son, Larry.
For many families researching WWII ancestry, these types of records—draft cards, IDPFs, and personnel files—provide essential insight into a soldier’s life before military service.
James A Truesdale’s WWII Draft Card
Reverse of James A Truesdale’s WWII draft card
96th Infantry Division in the Pacific War
PFC Truesdale joined B Company, 383rd Infantry Regiment, part of the 96th Infantry Division, on February 25th 1944 while they were undergoing training at Camp White, Oregon. At this time, Truesdale was still listed with the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 521, a basically trained soldier. That July, the 96th Division moved to Hawaii to continue training and await their first combat assignment. On October 20, 1944, Truesdale, along with the entire 96th Division would land on Leyte, Philippine Islands, one of the most intense campaigns of the war and earned his Combat Infantryman’s Badge on November 5, 1944 per General order #12, 1944, 383rd Infantry Regiment
L-Day: The Okinawa Invasion
On April 1, 1945—known as L-Day—PFC Truesdale landed on Brown Beach 1 at 0845 hours as part of the Allied invasion of Okinawa, officially known as Operation Iceberg. While initial resistance was limited, one soldier from his company was killed that day, signaling the danger that lay ahead.
The Battle of Okinawa would become one of the bloodiest campaigns of World War II.
Okinawa Invasion landing plan, 1 April 1945 (L Day) Operation Iceberg
The Battle of Momobaru – April 2, 1945
On April 2, 1945, B Company advanced inland toward the village of Momobaru. According to unit morning reports obtained from the National Archives, the 2nd and 3rd Platoons led the assault.
The objective was secured at approximately 1530 hours under heavy enemy resistance, including intense machine gun fire covering open ground.
During the attack:
PFC Truesdale was killed by a gunshot wound to the chest
He was the only soldier from B Company killed that day
Six other soldiers were seriously wounded
He became the second member of his company to die on Okinawa
These details, preserved in primary source records, allow historians and families to reconstruct the exact circumstances of combat on a given day.
Bronze Star Medal for Valor
For his actions during the battle, PFC Truesdale was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor under General Orders No. 730, Headquarters, 96th Infantry Division, 1945.
His citation reads:
“Private First Class James A. Truesdale, 39725033, Infantry, United States Army. For heroic service in connection with military operations against the enemy on Okinawa Island on 2 April 1945. When Private First Class Truesdale saw a man who had been seriously wounded by enemy fire and was lying in an area upon which enemy machine guns were firing, he exposed himself to the enemy fire and crawled out into the open field and removed the wounded man over approximately ten yards to a place of comparative security, where he, although still exposed to enemy fire, succeeded in dressing the wound. Private First Class Truesdale’s unflinching devotion to duty and his outstanding courage were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.”
James Truesdale Bronze Star Citation
Los Angeles Times anouncement of Bronze Star Citation
Burial and National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Following his death, PFC Truesdale was buried on Okinawa. His Individual Deceased Personnel File documents the postwar recovery and identification process conducted by the American Graves Registration Service.
In May 1948, his remains were disinterred and later permanently reinterred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
He rests today in Section Q, Grave 1136.
Why WWII Records Matter
The story of PFC James A. Truesdale demonstrates the importance of primary source military records such as:
These records allow families, historians, and researchers to go beyond basic service information and uncover the full story of a soldier’s life and sacrifice.
WWII Military Research Services
At Heritage Research Solutions, we specialize in locating and interpreting World War II military records from the National Archives, including IDPFs, Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs), and unit records.
If you are researching a family member who served in World War II, we can help uncover their story through original documentation.
Honoring His Legacy
From Los Angeles to the Philippines to the battlefield of Okinawa, PFC James A. Truesdale’s journey reflects the experience of countless American soldiers in World War II.
On this anniversary of his death, we honor his courage, his sacrifice, and his legacy—preserved through the records that ensure his story will never be forgotten.
