James Raymond Willis was born on November 12, 1923. He was the son of William Alson Willis and Mary Emmaline Brister Willis. James enlisted on November 1, 1942 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He served in the 560th Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group (Heavy), as a Sergeant and waist gunner of an aircraft during World War II. During the war, Willis was wounded to the hip at his post in a fighter attack, and refusing aid, and taking over his gun again. Sgt Willis was too severly wounded to abandon ship and was not seen after the explosion. He is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. He also has a cenotaph located in Hurricane Grove Cemetery, Sikes, Winn Parish, Louisiana. Sgt Willis was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.fieldsofhonor-database.com