James Semple (1912-1944)

SEE "Timeline" for chronological order of life events including photos and documents as available; SEE "Media" for Documents and any photo collection included from "Timeline"

On Dec. 1, 1912, James Semple was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, a son of Henry and Jeanie Scot Pollack (Jack) Semple, Sr. He was the brother of Henry "Hank" Semple, Jr (1911-1993); Janet S (Semple) Cassady (1916-1982) and Anna Semple.

On Dec 15, 1915, James and his family emigrated from Canada to Blaine, Washington, USA, on the Great Northern Railway.

In 1923, the Semple Family moved to Miami, FL. Note: Dr. James Semple, Baptist minister, in a church message he gave on June 30, 1996, he wrote and stated: "In 1923 when my father, Henry "Hank" Semple, was twelve, his family moved to Miami, Fla. in search of success and prosperity." Maybe James Semple's name influenced his brother naming his own son, James, in 1931.

In 1930, James Semple at age 17 lived with his family in Miami, Dade County, Florida including his father, Henry Semple, age 49 born in Scotland; mother Jeanie age 43 also born in Scotland; brother Henry "Hank" Semple, Jr age 19 born in Canada and sister Janet Semple age 13 born in Montana. He completed 4 years of high school.

On May 23, 1936, James Semple and Lorayne Major married in Miami, Dade County, Florida. They had no children. In 1942, James Semple, bookkeeper for Renuart Lumber Yards, and wife, Lorayne, lived at 777 NW 76th St., Miami, FL. On Sept 16, 1938 in Miami, FL, James filed petition of Naturalization.

On April 11, 1940, James Semple, age 27, was credit manager for the wholesale building materials business and wife, Lorayne Semple, age 23, working as a bookkeeper for wholesale fruits business, continued to live at the same address in Miami, Dade County, FL.

On Dec 15, 1942, James Semple enlisted in the U.S. Army. His term of enlistment was for the duration of World War II or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law. Enlistment record for James Semple noted his training location as Camp Blanding, Florida, his civilian occupation as bookkeeper & cashier and that he was married. Also, he had the rank of Private in the U.S. Army.

In Dec. 1944, James Semple, age 31, hometown of Miami, Dade County, FL, was killed in action while serving with Battery "C", 589th Field Artillery Battalion, 106th Infantry Division as a World War II casualty, Serial No. O-1185132, while achieving rank of 2nd Lieutenant. The Battalion and Battery were involved in a 5-day WW II battle at the end of Dec 1944, known as the Battle of the Bulge, at Baraque de Fraiture, Belgium, a place later known as Parker's Crossroads. Along with others, 2nd Lt. James Semple was captured and held as a POW in the Limburg camp in Germany. He was killed the night of Christmas Eve when the camp was bombed. Account of battle, including 2nd Lt. Semple being named, is found at www.indianamilitary.org/106ID/ParkersXRoad/ParkersXRoad.htm

His grave site memorial is in Southern Memorial Park North, Miami, Dade County, Florida. The bronze Memorial Marker was placed in 1949 by his parents.

MEMORIAL: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSmcid=47523168&GR...

Sources (SEE "Timeline" events & "Media"): Semple Family Photos, 1936 Marriage License document; U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records (1938-1946); 1930 U.S. Census, 1935 State of Florida Population Census; James Henry Semple message documents; 1938 Petition of Naturalization document; LINK http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/dade/military/ww2/other/worldwar10...; LINK http://faocsalumni.org/kiaww2_files/semplejl.pdf; LINK Parker's Crossroads http://www.battleofthebulgememories.be/en/stories/us-army/659-parke...; LINK http://www.pegasusarchive.org/pow/cSt_12A_History1.htm; LINK http://www.indianamilitary.org/106ID/Reports/AAR%2001-23-1946.htm

Note: Biography Overview arranged by family researcher & great nephew, Jim Semple, Jr.