James Caswell Coggins was born at Black Mountain, North Carolina, the son of Dr. James Caswell Coggins and Kate Penn De Vore.
He died 25 January 1944 in Italy.
Private First Class
143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, Company A
PFC Coggins served with the 36th ‘Texas’ Infantry Division, 143rd Infantry Regiment. He was wounded in action on January 25, 1944 and killed in action on January 26, 1944 at the Rapido River Battle in Italy.
He is buried in Happy Valley Memorial Park in Elizabethton. He was originally buried in Highland Cemetery, but when his father died in 1958, he was re-interred and buried next to his father. (A new government plaque was ordered, because his original one is still in Highland, but he is in Happy Valley).
The Johnson City Press, 21 September 1948
The body of Pfc. James C. Coggins, Jr., son of Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Coggins of Elizebethton arrived in Johnson City this morning. Private Coggins served in the Infantry during the war in the North African and Italian Theaters of war and was reported missing in action January 25, 1944. His death was later verified. He is survived by a twin brother, John Knox Coggins of Rahway, N.J., five sisters, Mrs. Charles Crider of Rayway, Mrs. Edgar Fisher, Mrs. A.E. Leavigne of St. Petersburg, Fla., Mrs. Frank Seaton of Johnson City and Miss Josephine Coggins of Elizabethton.
- Rank: Private First Class
- Date of birth: 27 October 1921
- Date of death: 25 January 1944
- County: Carter
- Hometown: Elizabethton
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Battles: Cassino
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Happy Valley Memorial Park, Elizabethton, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VIII, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor James C. Coggins Jr.
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