"Fat" Givens.

James E. "Fat" Givens
World War II-U. S. Army.

James E. "Fat" Givens was born of parents Willie and Lillie Zachary Givens in Echols Kentucky on January 16, 1924. Mr. and Mrs. Willie Givens raised a large family that consisted of seven boys and three girls. I think that all of Fat's brothers served in the military and if not, most were soldiers that served their country. James attended Pink Hall, a one room school, in Echols and was drafted into the Army on January 3, 1944. He was sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana for basic training and after completion was sent to Europe to join the US Army's 45th Division of the U. S. 7th Army. During a part of James' service with the 7th Army, General George Patton was in command and General Patton took this group of soldiers across Europe and into Germany for the eventual surrender of Hitler's army. General Patton once commented that the 45th Division was as good as any division of the Army.

Germany, after Hitler committed suicide, unconditionally surrender to the Allied Forces on 5/7/1945 and a little less than four months later Japan unconditionally surrendered on 9/2/1945. The war was over and the troops were coming home. James was given an honorable discharge before the end of the year and sent back home as a hero. Thanks James "Fat' Givens for you great service to our country.

Soon after arriving back home, and his soldiering days were over, "Fat" married Virginia Steenbergen and they settled in Rockport to raise a family. "Fat" found work for Peabody Coal Company and spent his working career until retirement with Peabody. This marriage produced three sons, Roger, David Joe, and Kenneth. At least two of these sons served in the Armed Forces, maybe all three. "Fat" passed away in 2011 and Dean passed in 2013. They are buried in Echols Cemetery near "Fat's" birthplace and his school grounds.

Some of the above written material, the above soldier picture of "Fat", and the small article, on the right, by "Fat's" great granddaughter were given to me by various friends. I hope that I have permission to use all and if not, please advise. Thanks to all for your material and a special thanks to "Fat's" great granddaughter, Daphne, for the beautifully written piece about her great grandfather's war record. May all soldiers find piece in their golden years and Heaven in their final resting place on Earth.

Prior to World War II, the 45th Division of the 7th Army was a National Guard Unit stationed in Oklahoma. The general make-up of this unit consisted of more Indians than in normal units. The Indians in the Oklahoma region, in this time frame, had a symbol of power and strength that protected humans from evil spirits. It was called the "Thunderbird" because the flapping of its' enormous wings sounded like thunder. The 45th division selected this "Thunderbird" symbol as their unit patch. The patch is shown below after this text box.

The 45th Infantry Division Oklahoma guardsmen saw no major action until they became one of the first National Guard units activated in World War II in 1941. They took part in intense fighting during the invasion of Sicily and the attack on Salerno in the 1943 Italian Campaign. After the war, they were deactivated only to be reactivated in 1951 to fight in the Korean War. Again, they were deactivated after the Korean War fighting ceased. Directly below is the 7th Army unit patch. Thanks to the 7th Army for their service in war time and in peace.

Thanks "Fat". Thanks for a distinguished and honorably military time in helping protect out country.

jerry

; ~ )