Berry, James C. (P2, C1, L6)

Technician Fifth Grade James Clifton  Berry, was born 11 March 1919, in Park City, Barren County, Kentucky. He joined Headquarters Troop, 123rd Cavalry of the Kentucky National Guard on 18 September 1940. He was induced into federal service, 6 January 1941. His unit was changed to Company B, 106th Coast Artillery Battalion, Berry died of wounds on 1 March 1944. He is buried in Nettuno, Provincia di Roma, Lazio, Italy.

Other casualties of the 106th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (Automatic Weapons) (Self-Propelled) during World War II were: T/5 Gordon B. Brooks; T/5 Joseph R. Carrico; PVT James J. Gannon; SGT John E. Parrott and T/5 Raymond J. Ramsey.

The reorganization of the United States Army shortly before World War converted Kentucky's 123rd Cavalry on November 1, 1940, as the 103rd Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Separate Battalion and the 106th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Separate Battalion.

The 106th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Separate Battalion, began training at Camp Hulen, located near Palacios, Texas, in January 15, 1941.  The unit arrived in Northern Ireland on May 15.  On October 19, when it was transferred to North Africa.  The battalion took part in Operation TORCH, the invasion of North Africa, arriving at Algeria on November 7.  Between November 17, 1942 to May 13, 1943, the 106th participated in the Tunisian Campaign.  The battalion left Africa and arrived in Sicily on July 10. The 106th participated in the Sicily campaign between July 9 and August 17.  On September 16, the 106th departed from Sicily and moved to Italy, remained there until August 12, 1944, and participating in the Naples-Foggia Campaign.  The battalion landed in Southern France on August 15.  The 106th left France on December 20 and went to Germany. The unit returned to the U. S.  December 2nd.  The battalion was inactivated the following day, December 3, 1945 at Camp Shanks, New York. On January 29, 1947, it was reorganized and redesignated as the 623rd Field Artillery Battalion with Headquarters at Glasgow, Kentucky.  Currently the lineage and honors of the 106th is carried by the 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery.

Sgt. James C. Berry of Park City Dies in a Hospital in Italy.

The Glasgow Times April 13 1944

Glasgow's own battery B, of the old 123rd cavalry, has lost its first member in the war. Confirmation of the death of Tech. 5 grade Sgt. James C. Berry, 24, by the War Department, was received by his mother, Mrs. Lola Berry, of Park City, Monday. The message stated that he died in a hospital at a beachhead March 1. A previous message to Mrs. Berry received March 29 stated that he had been seriously wounded at the Anzio beachhead February 29.

Young Berry left Glasgow with Battery B in 1941, and had been with it through the two years of strenuous and dangerous service it had overseas. He participated in the invasion of Africa, of Sicily and of Italy. The sadness of the family is particularly shared by all the families who have loved ones in Battery B, for it had been their hope and prayer that this fine group would be spared. Besides his mother Sgt. Berry is survived by a brother, Donald F. Berry, in the navy, and a sister, Mrs. Allison Shipley, Park City.