Basil Paul "Cotton" Littleton was born near Fall Branch, Sullivan County, Tennessee on 29 October 1924. He moved at a young age with his family to Jonesborough, Washington County, Tennessee, where he attended school and worked as a Farm Hand on his father's farm.
Basil enlisted in the United States Army on 10 September 1943 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia as a Private with service number 34884938. He then returned home to await further instructions from the Army. Basil received a telegram later this month instructing him to report for training on 1 October 1943 at Fort McPherson, Georgia. After completing this course of instruction that included Basic (Boot Camp), he received further/advanced training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and Fort George G. Meade in Maryland. He was stationed at Fort Meade until July 1944, when he was selected for the Replacement Draft and sent overseas to England.
After arriving England for a very short stay, Basil was fully outfitted for combat and then crossed the English Channel to France. He was assigned to the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry (Indianhead) Division as a loss replacement in late August 1944 near Tinchebray, Orne, Normandy. He and the 2nd then raced 200 miles west towards the port city of Brest, Finistere, Brittany. Brest a very heavily defended fortress was a major port for the German Navy's Wolf Packs, U-Boat Force (submarines). It was here during the Battle for Brest that Basil was Killed in Action on 10 September 1944, exactly one year from the date he enlisted.
Basil was 19 years old and participated in the Northern France Unit Campaign. He was awarded the Purple Heart and first interred at the US Military Cemetery at Avranches, Manche, Normandy, France in Plot L, Row 7, Grave 166. After the war, at the request of his father, Basil was disinterred and moved to the newly established Brittany American Cemetery, just over 10 miles south of Avranches in Saint James. Basil now rests in peace in Plot K, Row 4, Grave 12.
Basil's the son of Franklin Littleton, Senior and Myrtle Mae Light. His older brothers Orlan and Frank, Junior also served in the United States Army during World War II.
Basil Paul "Cotton" Littleton was born near Fall Branch, Sullivan County, Tennessee on 29 October 1924. He moved at a young age with his family to Jonesborough, Washington County, Tennessee, where he attended school and worked as a Farm Hand on his father's farm.
Basil enlisted in the United States Army on 10 September 1943 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia as a Private with service number 34884938. He then returned home to await further instructions from the Army. Basil received a telegram later this month instructing him to report for training on 1 October 1943 at Fort McPherson, Georgia. After completing this course of instruction that included Basic (Boot Camp), he received further/advanced training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and Fort George G. Meade in Maryland. He was stationed at Fort Meade until July 1944, when he was selected for the Replacement Draft and sent overseas to England.
After arriving England for a very short stay, Basil was fully outfitted for combat and then crossed the English Channel to France. He was assigned to the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry (Indianhead) Division as a loss replacement in late August 1944 near Tinchebray, Orne, Normandy. He and the 2nd then raced 200 miles west towards the port city of Brest, Finistere, Brittany. Brest a very heavily defended fortress was a major port for the German Navy's Wolf Packs, U-Boat Force (submarines). It was here during the Battle for Brest that Basil was Killed in Action on 10 September 1944, exactly one year from the date he enlisted.
Basil was 19 years old and participated in the Northern France Unit Campaign. He was awarded the Purple Heart and first interred at the US Military Cemetery at Avranches, Manche, Normandy, France in Plot L, Row 7, Grave 166. After the war, at the request of his father, Basil was disinterred and moved to the newly established Brittany American Cemetery, just over 10 miles south of Avranches in Saint James. Basil now rests in peace in Plot K, Row 4, Grave 12.
Basil's the son of Franklin Littleton, Senior and Myrtle Mae Light. His older brothers Orlan and Frank, Junior also served in the United States Army during World War II.
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