James Edward Blincoe

1913-1982

Father Nm: James M Blincoe,   b. 1883, Kentucky d. 6 Jul 1915, Jefferson, Kentucky

Mother Nm: Louise Taylor,   b. 1888, Kentucky d. 9 Feb 1906, Nelson, Kentucky

Marriage Dt:  21 February 1933 Louisville, Kentucky

K comments: Son James Edward jnr joined the USAF post WW2
Spouse comments:

1. Sarah Embry,   b. 7 Apr 1914, Louisville, Kentucky d.
2. Elizabeth Anderson b. 1914 Kentucky

Children. James Edward Blincoe b. 1933 d. 1997,  Louisville Kentucky. Lois Jean Blincoe b. 1935 d. 2003

Born 1913

7 Nov 1913 Louisville, Kentucky

1930 CENSUS

Age 16 Inmate at Jefferson County Detention Home

1940 CENSUS

Married and two sons

1 Apr 1940	644 22nd St Jefferson County, Kentucky
Margaret Mays Head 50 Widow Virginia James Blincoe 24 Lodger Negro Porter Drugstore Elizabeth Blincoe 26 Kentucky James Blincoe, Jr 4 Kentucky Charles Blincoe 2 Kentucky

WW2

James Edward Blincoe, Corporal, 35485310, US Army

US Draft 1940

6 October 1940, living at 1421 N. Chestnut St Louisville

1942

• 20 July. Enlisted

Notes

1. it seems very likely that James joined the 366th Infantry regiment as part of the segregated Black 92nd Division. The evidence is weak but he sustained a wounding in 1944 and the 366th were in combat in Italy in that year so will continue to look for evidence of this. Just in case my theory is correct the 366th Infantry movements are listed below from Wikipedia;
2. From the war story of Rothacker Smith 366th soldier at National WW2 MuseumThe 366th’s make-up (all black soldiers) did not help protect them from prejudice and harm within the larger military system. In March 1944, the 366th shipped out to Oran, North Africa. There, black troops experienced discrimination and mistreatment from white MPs that included punishments, demotions, and even beatings. They were judged severely for any small infraction and subjugation was enforced. Even their CO, Colonel Howard Donavan Queen was denied entrance to the officer’s club. Here, in service overseas, they experienced racist discrimination akin to what they had experienced in Texas and Georgia. Smith suffered from persecution not only because he was African American, but because of his religion. Smith had earned the rank of T5 but was busted down to buck private by his own commanding officer for advocating to attend church services on the Adventist sabbath of Saturday.

 

1943

• It was attached to the 1st Service Command on 1 May 1943 and to the XIII Corps on 1 September 1943.
• Moved to A. P. Hill Military Reservation, Virginia 14 October 1943 and to Camp Atterbury, Indiana, 23 November 1943, under XX Corps.

1944

• Assigned to XXII Corps on 21 January 1944, and staged at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia 22 March 1944, until it departed Hampton Roads P/E (Port of Embarkation) on 28 March 1944.
• Arrived in North Africa on 6 April 1944 and then attached to 15th Air Force Service Command for airfield security duties from Sardinia to the Adriatic coast.

Note: The most likely place for James to be stationed after April is the Foggia area of Italy where many 15th Air Force bases were established within a 40km area . See map below.

 

• July. Wounded. Hospital Admission records state cause Ammunition Explosion. source Hospital Admission Card Files 1942-1954. The records (as previously mentioned)  show the 366th were on duty guarding places like Ammunition dumps etc so this injury a result of an accident instead of enemy action is a possibility

Note: If James was not wounded badly, and returned to his regiment then the history of the 366th is included below.

• Assigned to Fifth Army on 4 November 1944 and arrived in Livorno, Italy on 21 November 1944, for attachment to the 92nd Infantry Division until 25 February 1945.
• November. Combat on the Gothic Line at Sommocolonia.

  

Note from the war story of Rothacker Smith 366th soldier  this hateful and frankly punishable statement from Edward Almond a commanding General of the 92nd Division

In late November and December, the 366th made its way north in Italy. They had a cold, soggy Thanksgiving day and dished out on mess kits near Pisa. Smith recalled a dispiriting reception on December 1st, as the 366th was eventually rejoined with the other elements of the 92nd; Major General Edward Almond, commanding general of the 92nd, said that he had not asked for them and that he did not want them. General Almond was reported as saying: “I did not send for you. Your Negro newspapers, Negro politicians, and white friends have insisted on your seeing combat, and I shall see that you get combat and your share of the casualties.”

Days later they reached their destination of Sommocolonia, an ancient town that was a key position in the Gothic Line. For weeks, the 366th would exchange daily fire with the Germans who were very close by, just across a small valley. Smith was initially part of a forward aid station, but after 10 days in the town was ordered to serve as the medic for a machine gun squad encamped in a house (the occupants and most other townspeople had fled) on the side of town closest to the German lines. On December 26, the German counterattack began. Mortar shells, which had been falling all day on Christmas, hit closer and more frequently. All hell broke loose.

 

1945

• 28 March. Disbanded in Italy from the 366th Infantry, and personnel transferred into the 224th and 226th Engineer General Service Regiments.

• Discharged

Medals

Sources

1. 1. Find My Past  and BFA database
   2. Fold
   3. Buffalo Soldiers 366th Inf.https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/buffalo-soldier-rothacker-smith-366th-infantry-regiment

After the War

James returned to Louisville, and it seems had a son  James Edward Blincoe born

James Edward Blincoe was a serving USAF serviceman in 1960 and living at an address that father James (in 1988) was also living at 605 E BURNETT AVE, Louisville, Kentucky

Directory Records

1960	428 E Jacob apt E, Louisville
Jas E (Ardella C) Batteryman Natl Auto Sls h428\r E Jacob apt E
Residence:	1988	605 E BURNETT AVE, Louisville, Kentucky

 

Death

19 Dec 1982, Jefferson, Kentucky

Burial

Gallery