James Robert "J.R." Whited Jr.
1LT in 3133rd Signal Service Co : Officer
ASN#6946068
Born 1913 in VA, Died 1987
Other residence(s): Appalachia, VA; Gate City, VA; Jenkins, KY; Morristown, TN; Talbott, TN
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
Occupation before the war: timberman in mine
James Whited, known as “J.R.” was born on May 17, 1913 in Appalachia, VA, the fourth of five children. His father was a mine worker. By 193 he was living in Gate City, VA with his grandfather, along with his mother, two brothers, and an aunt. His father was likely away from home in the mines.
He graduated from high school in Virginia, and eventually relocated to Jenkins, KY to work in the Consolidation Coal Company Mine as a timberman.* He spent four years in that role before enlisting in the Army in 1939. He first served as an MP in Hawaii; while there he played basketball in the Army Staff Athletic League—his team won the 1939 championships.
He returned stateside and by 1942 was stationed in California. He was clearly seen as officer material, and was sent to Officer Candidate School, graduating with a commission as a 2LT in February, 1943. That December he was promoted to 1LT.
He was eventually assigned to the 3133 Signal Service Company, and saw service in Italy with that unit near the end of the war. He was discharged from the Army on January 10, 1946, and returned to his job as a timberman in Jenkins.
J.R. married Grace Buchanan on January 31, 1947; they would go on to have two children: Paul Wayne and James III.
When he retired, J.R. and Grace moved to the Morristown, TN area, where they lived from 1973 until J.R.’s death on June 5, 1987. After J.R. died, Grace moved to Raleigh, NC to be closer to family; J.R. is buried at Raleigh Memorial Park there.
*A timberman installs, maintains, and repairs the wooden supports (timbers, posts, caps, lagging) that hold up the roofs and walls of tunnels and shafts, preventing collapses and ensuring safety for other miners; it's a critical, labor-intensive job involving precise framing and securing structures against immense pressure.
Sources:
1913 birth record
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9277/records/8301858?tid=10036879&pid=6902378272&ssrc=pt
1920 census
1930 census
1939 US Army Transport manifest, New York to San Francisco
1939 US Army Transport manifest, San Francisco to Hawaii
1939 article in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI); he is an MP and plays on an Army basketball team
https://www.newspapers.com/image/259731337/?match=1&terms=james%20whited
1940 census
1942 article about his military service in The Mountain Eagle (Whitesburg KY)
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1099543811/?match=1&terms=james%20whited
1943 article in the Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) about his graduation from OCS
https://www.newspapers.com/image/684071543/?match=1&terms=james%20r%20whited
1944 article about his military service in The Mountain Eagle (Whitesburg KY)
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1099515469/?match=1&terms=james%20r%20whited
1944 article in the Courier-Journal (Louisville KY); he is promoted to 1LT
https://www.newspapers.com/image/107261827/?match=1&terms=james%20whited
1947 marriage announcement in The Mountain Eagle (Whitesburg KY)
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1101826906/?match=1&terms=james%20r.%20whited
1987 VA death record
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2441/records/457740?tid=10036879&pid=6902378272&ssrc=pt
1987 Find a Grave record
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/109551920/james-robert-whited
1987 death notice in The News and Observer (Raleigh NC)
https://www.newspapers.com/image/655732676/?match=1&terms=james%20r.%20whited
2006 wife’s obituary in The News and Observer (Raleigh NC)
https://www.newspapers.com/image/659621888/?match=1&terms=grace%20whited