|
 Pvt
James D. Deaton was wounded
when an explosive charge that he was setting for a training exercise
exploded prematurely.
Pvt Deaton, a
graduate of the
Demolition School,
died 9 days later of Peritonitis.
The medical examiner stated it had been a mustard gas
bomb but that is highly unlikely as the use of such weapons had been
banned by the Geneva Protocol signed by multiple nations on 17 June
1925. In addition, this was only a training exercise and handling
of such a dangerous device is also improbable.
The accident occurred at Camp Mackall, NC, on December 9, 1943, only 10
days before the 508th left for its port of debarkation and its role in
the European Theater of Operations.
|
 |
(courtesy of
Chris Kittrell) |
|
Application for a grave marker and
resulting grave marker in the Oakland
Cemetery,
Little Rock (Pulaski County), Arkansas.
His death was the first listed for the regiment during
training and is commemorated by the inscription, which reads "Brief,
brave and glorious was this young career." |
