Born November 30, 1895 in Tenaha, Shelby County, Texas to Martha Tomlinson and Robert Hall Burns. The family consisted of two sisters and four brothers one of which died in infancy.
On August 12, 1916 at the age of 20 James voluntarily enlisted in the Texas National Guard in Sweetwater, Texas. He was assigned to Company K of the Fourth Infantry Regiment that served on the Mexican boarder to deter raids by Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. With the United States entering the World War on April 6, 1917 his unit was federalized and on October 16 James was assigned to Company F, 144 Infantry Regiment, 72 Infantry Brigade, 36 Division at Camp Bowie, Fort Worth, Texas.
On July 18, 1918 and now a member of Headquarters Company, 144 Regiment, James left the port of Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS George Washington bound for the war in France. He listed his Father Robert as his next of kin. Reaching their destination some eleven days later the division (less artillery) was sent to the 13th Training Area in the vicinity of Bar-sur-Aube, a commune in the Aube department in the Grand Est region of France. Now a member of Company G, the 144th Regiment saw combat service in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive from October 7 to the armistice that ended the war on November 11, 1918. During operations, the 36th Division captured 549 prisoners and suffered 2,528 casualties. They then moved to the 16th Training Area around the commune of Tonnerre, Yonne department, north-central France and remained there until May 24, 1919 when the 144th departed Brest, France aboard the USS Pretoria for the journey home. Arriving back at Hoboken on June 6th the soldiers were transported to Camp Mills, Long Island, New York where James was honorably discharged fifteen days later. For his service he was awarded the World War I Victory Medal.
Following the war and according to the Shreveport Journal Newspaper, February 29, 1928 James suffered a long illness as a result of being gassed in the war. His military record made no mention of it but that is not uncommon. He died on February 27, 1928 at the age of 28 in a San Antonio sanitarium. His remains were returned to Tenaha where funeral services were held at the Methodist Church with interment in the Woods Cemetery, Panola County, Texas. Day is done, God is nigh.
Bio by Larry E. Hume
On August 12, 1916 at the age of 20 James voluntarily enlisted in the Texas National Guard in Sweetwater, Texas. He was assigned to Company K of the Fourth Infantry Regiment that served on the Mexican boarder to deter raids by Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. With the United States entering the World War on April 6, 1917 his unit was federalized and on October 16 James was assigned to Company F, 144 Infantry Regiment, 72 Infantry Brigade, 36 Division at Camp Bowie, Fort Worth, Texas.
On July 18, 1918 and now a member of Headquarters Company, 144 Regiment, James left the port of Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS George Washington bound for the war in France. He listed his Father Robert as his next of kin. Reaching their destination some eleven days later the division (less artillery) was sent to the 13th Training Area in the vicinity of Bar-sur-Aube, a commune in the Aube department in the Grand Est region of France. Now a member of Company G, the 144th Regiment saw combat service in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive from October 7 to the armistice that ended the war on November 11, 1918. During operations, the 36th Division captured 549 prisoners and suffered 2,528 casualties. They then moved to the 16th Training Area around the commune of Tonnerre, Yonne department, north-central France and remained there until May 24, 1919 when the 144th departed Brest, France aboard the USS Pretoria for the journey home. Arriving back at Hoboken on June 6th the soldiers were transported to Camp Mills, Long Island, New York where James was honorably discharged fifteen days later. For his service he was awarded the World War I Victory Medal.
Following the war and according to the Shreveport Journal Newspaper, February 29, 1928 James suffered a long illness as a result of being gassed in the war. His military record made no mention of it but that is not uncommon. He died on February 27, 1928 at the age of 28 in a San Antonio sanitarium. His remains were returned to Tenaha where funeral services were held at the Methodist Church with interment in the Woods Cemetery, Panola County, Texas. Day is done, God is nigh.
Bio by Larry E. Hume
Born November 30, 1895 in Tenaha, Shelby County, Texas to Martha Tomlinson and Robert Hall Burns. The family consisted of two sisters and four brothers one of which died in infancy.
On August 12, 1916 at the age of 20 James voluntarily enlisted in the Texas National Guard in Sweetwater, Texas. He was assigned to Company K of the Fourth Infantry Regiment that served on the Mexican boarder to deter raids by Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. With the United States entering the World War on April 6, 1917 his unit was federalized and on October 16 James was assigned to Company F, 144 Infantry Regiment, 72 Infantry Brigade, 36 Division at Camp Bowie, Fort Worth, Texas.
On July 18, 1918 and now a member of Headquarters Company, 144 Regiment, James left the port of Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS George Washington bound for the war in France. He listed his Father Robert as his next of kin. Reaching their destination some eleven days later the division (less artillery) was sent to the 13th Training Area in the vicinity of Bar-sur-Aube, a commune in the Aube department in the Grand Est region of France. Now a member of Company G, the 144th Regiment saw combat service in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive from October 7 to the armistice that ended the war on November 11, 1918. During operations, the 36th Division captured 549 prisoners and suffered 2,528 casualties. They then moved to the 16th Training Area around the commune of Tonnerre, Yonne department, north-central France and remained there until May 24, 1919 when the 144th departed Brest, France aboard the USS Pretoria for the journey home. Arriving back at Hoboken on June 6th the soldiers were transported to Camp Mills, Long Island, New York where James was honorably discharged fifteen days later. For his service he was awarded the World War I Victory Medal.
Following the war and according to the Shreveport Journal Newspaper, February 29, 1928 James suffered a long illness as a result of being gassed in the war. His military record made no mention of it but that is not uncommon. He died on February 27, 1928 at the age of 28 in a San Antonio sanitarium. His remains were returned to Tenaha where funeral services were held at the Methodist Church with interment in the Woods Cemetery, Panola County, Texas. Day is done, God is nigh.
Bio by Larry E. Hume
On August 12, 1916 at the age of 20 James voluntarily enlisted in the Texas National Guard in Sweetwater, Texas. He was assigned to Company K of the Fourth Infantry Regiment that served on the Mexican boarder to deter raids by Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. With the United States entering the World War on April 6, 1917 his unit was federalized and on October 16 James was assigned to Company F, 144 Infantry Regiment, 72 Infantry Brigade, 36 Division at Camp Bowie, Fort Worth, Texas.
On July 18, 1918 and now a member of Headquarters Company, 144 Regiment, James left the port of Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USS George Washington bound for the war in France. He listed his Father Robert as his next of kin. Reaching their destination some eleven days later the division (less artillery) was sent to the 13th Training Area in the vicinity of Bar-sur-Aube, a commune in the Aube department in the Grand Est region of France. Now a member of Company G, the 144th Regiment saw combat service in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive from October 7 to the armistice that ended the war on November 11, 1918. During operations, the 36th Division captured 549 prisoners and suffered 2,528 casualties. They then moved to the 16th Training Area around the commune of Tonnerre, Yonne department, north-central France and remained there until May 24, 1919 when the 144th departed Brest, France aboard the USS Pretoria for the journey home. Arriving back at Hoboken on June 6th the soldiers were transported to Camp Mills, Long Island, New York where James was honorably discharged fifteen days later. For his service he was awarded the World War I Victory Medal.
Following the war and according to the Shreveport Journal Newspaper, February 29, 1928 James suffered a long illness as a result of being gassed in the war. His military record made no mention of it but that is not uncommon. He died on February 27, 1928 at the age of 28 in a San Antonio sanitarium. His remains were returned to Tenaha where funeral services were held at the Methodist Church with interment in the Woods Cemetery, Panola County, Texas. Day is done, God is nigh.
Bio by Larry E. Hume
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