The Marlborough
Historical Society

    James was born the 4th of February 1923 in Cavan County, Ireland the fourth of six children born to Edward and Margaret Sheehan. He immigrated to America with his family in July of 1923 from Liverpool England aboard the SS SAMARIA arriving in Boston. He made his home with his parents at 54 School Street in Shrewsbury and worked at the Diamond Shoe Factory in Marlborough before he enlisted into the Army the 5th of January 1943. He received his basic training at Camp Croft, South Carolina and was naturalized as an American citizen the 1st of April 1943.

    He was ultimately assigned to Company M, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. Meeting his new unit which was already in England performing training, James and the rest of the 116th Regiment participated in the amphibious assault onto mainland Europe at Normandy the 6th of June 1944. Transported to Omaha Beach aboard the USS CHARLES CARROLL (APA-28) and Company M of the third battalion was the reserve landing later in the morning. The third battalion took part in the battles at Saint Lo before being moved to the rear for a period of rest and replenishment. On the 2nd of August 1944 while engaging German forces near the French town of Vire, James was killed in action and reported missing. His remains were found on the 7th of August and he was laid to rest at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. A square in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts is named in his honor.

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