Grave marker for Pvt Emmett L. Boyce in Cypress Chapel Christian Church Cemetery, Suffolk (Suffolk County), Virginia,

Emmett, a draftee, was inducted in Richmond, VA on September 8, 1943. At the time, he listed his residence as Isle of Wight, VA. He had completed grammar school level and he was single, without dependents.

He volunteered for parachutist duty and completed jump school at Ft. Benning, GA, in the first half of 1944. Following that he was shipped overseas.

On August 10, 1944 he was transferred from the 11th Replacement Depot to Company B, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (82nd Airborne Division). At that time the 508th was in Nottingham, England rebuilding its strength after sustaining heavy losses during its campaign in Normandy, France.

Pvt Boyce was with the regiment when it was sent into the Battle of the Bulge on December 18, 1944.

Unfortunately, he was killed in action on December 24, 1944. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge.