TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Devereux, James Patrick Sinnott

Date of birth:
September 20th, 1903 (Cabana, Cuba)
Date of death:
August 5th, 1988 (Baltimore/Maryland, United States)
Buried on:
Arlington National Cemetery
Nationality:
American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

James Devereux was commissioned in 1925. On December 7th, 1941 he Commanded the First marine DefenceBattalion at Wake Island. After the fightings at Wake, he was taken Prisoner of War by the Japanese, where he tayed until the ending of the war.

After the Second World War he stayed in the U.S. Marine Corps until 1948. Later James Devereux served in the House of Representatives from Maryland, living in Ruxton, Maryland.
On August 5th, 1988 he passed away in Baltimore.

Promotions:
February 1925: 2nd Lieutenant;
?: 1st Lieutenant;
December 1935: Captain;


Career:
July 1923: Enlistment U.S. Marine Corps;
?: Norfolk, Philadelphia;
?: Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia;
?: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba;
1926: Mail Guard Detachment, New York;
?: Company Officer U.S. Marines, Nicaragua;
1927: U.S.S. Utah;
?: Nicaragua;
?: China;
?: Commanding Officer Mounted Detachment, Legation Guard. Peking;
?: Quantico;
1933: Coast Artillery School Fort Monroe, Virginia;
? - 1936: Base Defense Weapons School Quantico;
?: Marine Detachment U.S.S. Utah;
1938: Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California;
?: 449 Marines, Wake Island;
December 23rd, 1941 POW;
? - September 1945: Japanese prison camp, Hokkaido Island;
?: Marine Corps Headquarters, Washington;
1945: Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia;
September 1946 - May 1947: Senior Course, Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico;
? - August 1st, 1948: First Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California;
August 1st, 1948: Retirement;

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
1st Marine Defence Battalion, Naval Air station Wake Island, U.S. Navy
Awarded on:
April 1942
Awarded for:
Operation MI
Citation:
"For distinguished and heroic conduct in the line of his profession, as Commanding Officer of the FIRST Marine Defense Battalion, Naval Air Station, Wake Island. Major Devereux was responsible for directing defenses of that post during the Japanese siege from 7 through 22 December 1941, against impossible odds. Major Devereux's inspiring leadership and the valiant devotion to duty of his command contributed in large measure to the outstanding success of these vital missions and reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service."

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 301 (April 1942).
Navy Cross
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Recieved with "WAKE ISLAND" clasp.
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Received with"BASE" clasp and a bronze campaign star.
American Defence Service Medal
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Received with a bronze campaign star.
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
1st Marine Defence Battalion, Naval Air station Wake Island, U.S. Navy

NARA Database: Records of World War II Prisoners of War, created, 1942 - 1947.
Prisoner of War Medal

Sources