[courtesy of Sharon Crowley Connor]

Grave marker James and Laura Tibbetts in Plot MW, Site 36, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego (San Diego county), California.

James registered for the draft in Lake county, IL ON 16 October 1940 and was inducted into the Army at Chicago, IL on 24 April 1941.

He was tapped for OCS and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.

On 18 August 1942 he married Theresa Laura Hrudicka in Cumberland, NC.

James' date of arrival in the 508th is unknown as both Co E and Hq 2nd morning reports are unavailable in 1942.

On 22 August 1943. 2nd Lt Tibbets was marked as going on leave and he returned the following day.  He was transferred to Hq 2nd on 24 August.

Lt. Tibbetts was wounded in action on D-Day and Ed Ott wrote in his autobiography,: "Tibbetts was hit in the left leg."

The Hq 2nd morning report stated that the lieutenant was "seriously wounded in action as of 6 June 44".

Lt Tibbetts returned to duty on 2 August 1944.

On 1 October 1944, he was again reported as having been seriously wounded and this time he was in recuperation for a prolong period.  as a consequence he was transferred to the hospital's detachment of patients on 2 January 1945.

Even though he was then hospitalized e was promoted to 1st Lt on 26 Oct 1944 and relieved of his principal duty as assistant platoon leader and assumed the principal duty of platoon leader.

A letter written by a Barbara Martin in April 1945 said, “Deane Tibbetts got shrapnel in his jaw in Holland and now one side of his face is temporarily paralyzed so he’s on non-combat status.

He was discharged on 25 February 1946 but then returned to active duty on 14 August 1948 and remained in service until his retirement as a Lt. Colonel on 1 November 1962.

His wife Theresa and children Laura  and were aboard the USNS General William O. Darby (TA-P 127) when it departed for Bremerhaven, Germany on 24 February 1956.

 James either renewed his vows with, or perhaps remarried, Theresa L Hrudicka in San Diego City, CA on 20 November 1971.

His military decorations include the Purple Heart with a Oak lead=f Cluster and the Combat Infantryman Badge for action during Normandy, France Campaign, 6 June 1944 to 9 July 1944