James A. Wells
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army

On D-Day, 6 June 1944, Staff Sergeant James A. Wells was serving with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, First U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations.

On that day, SSG Wells’ unit was in action against German forces on Omaha Beach at Normandy, France. The 1st Infantry Division and one Regimental Combat Team from the 29th Infantry Division comprised the first wave of troops that assaulted German Army defenses that day. The 1st Division troops had to run 300 yards to get to the bluffs, with some of the Division's units suffering 30 percent casualties in the first hour of the assault. While Company L was pinned down on the beach due to the intense German rifle, machine gun and artillery fire, SSG Wells, with 2 other men, volunteered to cut an opening in the barbed wire. In the face of the heavy enemy fire, SSG Wells opened a gap in the wire and then picked his way through a minefield to the base of a hill and proceeded to lay effective rifle fire on the German positions. SSG Wells caused the enemy to cease firing long enough to allow Company L to move through the gap in the wire and join him beyond the minefield. Then, while the men who had joined him laid frontal fire on the enemy positions, SSG Wells, although continually exposed, moved to the flank and rear of the enemy and subjected them to his extremely accurate rifle fire. While SSG Wells engaged the enemy, Company L again moved forward and successfully assaulted the enemy positions. When the Germans counterattacked, SSG Wells again worked his way to the flank and, from his exposed position, laid effective fire upon the enemy. Despite the heavy fire that was placed upon him, SSG Wells remained at his post until the counterattack was beaten off. SSG Wells’ courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On 16 November 1944, during the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, VII Corps, First Army, used 4 divisions, including the 1st Infantry Division, in an attack to clear Hürtgen Forest and the path of First Army to the Ruhr River. After heavy fighting, the attack ground to a halt. On 18 November, SSG Wells was Killed in Action.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin, Silver and Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Croix de Guerre with Palm (France) 2 Awards
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Staff Sergeant James A. Wells (ASN: 35215424), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. While his company was pinned down on the beach due to the intense enemy rifle, machine gun and artillery fire, Staff Sergeant Wells, with two other men, volunteered to cut an opening in the barbed wire. In the face of the heavy enemy fire, he opened a gap in the wire and then picked his way through a minefield to the base of a hill and proceeded to lay effective rifle fire on the enemy positions. He caused the enemy to cease firing long enough to allow his company to move through the gap in the wire and join him beyond the minefield. Then, while the men who had joined him laid frontal fire on the enemy positions, he, though continually exposed, moved to the flank and rear of the enemy and subjected them to his extremely accurate rifle fire. While he engaged the enemy, the company again moved forward and successfully assaulted the enemy positions. When the enemy counterattacked, Staff Sergeant Wells again worked his way to the flank and from his exposed position laid effective fire upon the enemy and remained at his post despite the heavy fire that was placed upon him until the counterattack was beaten off. Staff Sergeant Wells' intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 31 (July 1, 1944)

Burial

Staff Sergeant James A. Wells is buried at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial in Henri-Chapelle, Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège, Belgium, in Plot C, Row 9, Grave 35.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56286575/james-a-wells