James Terry
James Arville “Jimmy” Terry (July 14, 1916 – April 13, 1945) was a soldier from Robbins killed during World War II.
See Also: Scott Countians killed in war
Biography
Born July 14, 1916, Jimmy Terry was the son of Carnelon Vernon Terry (1889-1942) and Martha Smith (1892-1975).
His siblings included Annis M. Laity (1915-2012), William M. Terry (1918-1946), Hazel Woods (1920-2019), John B. Terry (1924-2018), an infant brother and sister (1929-1929), Carnelon Vernon Terry Jr. (1930-2015), an infant brother (1933-1933), Floyd Kenneth Terry (1935-1952) and Paul Denis Terry (1937-2010). Three of his brothers also served in the war.
Jimmy’s second-great-grandfather was Elijah Terry, brother of Josiah Terry, who was the first settler of Oneida.
He married Marie Wright (1924-2016) in 1941. She was the daughter of Hobert Lee Wright (1903-1981) and Rosia Jane Branim (1905-1987) of Grassy Knob. They had a daughter, Patricia Jane Eastman (1942-2011).
World War II
Lt. Terry enlisted in the U.S. Army on Oct. 31, 1936 at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and was assigned to the 28th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division, Headquarters Company. He was overseas for 18 months during World War II, prior to his death in Germany on April 13, 1945.
Aftermath
Lt. Terry’s body was returned home for burial at Black Creek Crossroads Cemetery. His wife was informed by telegram from the War Department of his death on April 28, 1945.
He was awarded the Purple Heart. He is listed on the VFW Post 5669 Memorial Wall in Oneida, the Scott County Veterans Memorial in Huntsville, and the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial in Knoxville.
Marie remarried to Hubert Byrd, who was also a veteran of World War II, on Dec. 15, 1945. They lived much of their life in Michigan before returning to Scott County late in life. She died in 2016, and she and Hubert are both buried at Black Creek Crossroads. They had four more children. Patricia spent her life in Michigan as an English teacher, where she married Edward Eastman. She died in 2011 and is buried in Michigan.