Singleton John Willis

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John Willis Singleton is honored on the following 1 monument(s) in our database:

Pvt Salvatore Grifo and PFC John Willis Singleton Monument

Name:

John Willis Singleton

Rank:

Private First Class

Serial Number:

34254501

Unit:

48th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division

Date of Death:

1944-08-22

State:

North Carolina

Cemetery:

Inman Chapel Church Cemetery, Retreat, Haywood County, North Carolina, USA

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Marksmanship Badge, American Campaign Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign

Comments:

John Willis Singleton was born on May 12, 1918, in Beaverdam Township, Haywood County, North Carolina. He was the son of Benjamin Franklin "Ben" Singleton and Sarah Ella Kuykendall Singleton. He served in Company C, 48th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division, as a Private First Class during World War II.

On August 22, 1944, PFC Singleton took part in the liberation of Ballancourt-sur-Essonne as American armored and infantry units advanced against German rear guard forces attempting to delay the Allied offensive. According to eyewitness accounts, Singleton and his fellow soldiers advanced through orchards toward a crossroads when concealed German troops opened fire from a roadside ditch. Singleton was killed instantly in the ambush, while his comrade, Pvt Grifo, was critically wounded and later died the same day. Following the engagement, residents carried Singleton's body back into the village on a stretcher, covered it with bouquets, and transported it by jeep. He is now buried in the Inman Chapel Church Cemetery, Retreat, Haywood County, North Carolina, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.7tharmddiv.org