Purple Heart Recipient: Petty Officer First Class James Everett Attreberry - Died June 6, 1944 assault on Omaha Beach

323 North 4th Street in Fort Smith.

James Everett Atterberry was born on June 28, 1920, in Arkansas. He was the son of John E. Atterberry and grew up in the Fort Smith area of Sebastian County. By the early 1940s the family lived at 323 North 4th Street in Fort Smith. Like many young men of his generation, he faced the hardships of the Great Depression before the nation entered World War II.

By the early 1940s the family lived at 323 North 4th Street in Fort Smith. Like many young men of his generation, he faced the hardships of the Great Depression before the nation entered World War II.

Atterberry enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and trained as a gunner's mate. He rose to the rank of Petty Officer First Class, serial number 205 957. He was assigned to the crew of LCI(L)-91, a Landing Craft Infantry (Large) vessel.

These flat-bottomed ships were designed to carry and land up to about 200 troops directly onto hostile beaches. The LCI(L)-91 had previously supported amphibious operations in North Africa and at Salerno, Italy, in 1943 before joining the massive buildup for the invasion of Normandy.

.On the evening of June 5, 1944, LCI(L)-91 departed Weymouth, England, as part of the D-Day armada. Early on the morning of June 6 it approached the Dog White sector of Omaha Beach carrying approximately 200 soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division. The vessel faced a maze of German underwater obstacles, teller mines on stakes, and intense enemy fire. As the ramps lowered and troops began disembarking, the ship struck a mine, which blew a large hole in the hull and sprayed shrapnel.

While attempting to maneuver, it took multiple hits from German 88mm artillery shells. Fires broke out on the well deck, and the ship began listing. Seven crewmen were killed in the explosions and shelling, including Gunner's Mate First Class James Everett Atterberry. He was 23 years old.Atterberry was undoubtedly manning one of the ship's 20mm guns and returning fire against enemy positions when he was killed.

For his death in action he was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously. His body was eventually recovered and returned to the United States. He was laid to rest with military honors at Fort Smith National Cemetery, Section 4, Site 2154.James Everett Atterberry's service aboard LCI(L)-91 formed part of the critical Coast Guard contribution to Operation Neptune, the naval phase of the Normandy invasion.

Four LCIs were lost at Omaha Beach on D-Day. The sacrifice of Atterberry and his shipmates helped secure the beachhead that led to the liberation of Western Europe.

He is remembered today among the Fort Smith and western Arkansas veterans who gave their lives on the bloodiest day of the Allied invasion.