The Story
Pvt James Kendall was killed in action on 07 June 1944, serving with Company B, 121st Engineer Combat Battalion. On the morning of 7 June 1944, near Vierville-sur-Mer, the battalion came under enemy attack beginning at 0530 hours and held its ground until Rangers, backed by tanks, arrived around 1030 hours to relieve the pressure. In the aftermath, the men helped establish a defensive line along the east-west road running through Vierville to shield the Division command post. During this action, the company commander, Capt. Humphrey, was wounded while leading part of the company out of the assembly area, a sign of how close and immediate the fighting had been for the unit that day. Pvt Kendall was killed in action that day; the report does not specify the individual circumstances.
Source: NARA