U.S. Army
134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division
Sergeant James P. Bridges 20722116
Killed In Action - August 01st 1944, Normandy France
Buried: Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France
The President of The United States of America condolence letter, above photo.
When a service member was Killed In Action (KIA) the President sent an official condolence letter. The
letter pictured above was sent to the next of kin and is auto-pen signed by President Franklin D.
Roosevelt. The auto-pen is an officially endorsed mechanical duplicate of a signature.
This letter was sent as official condolence for Sergeant James P. Bridges 20722116 who was killed in
action in the European Area, August 1st 1944.
HISTORY OF JAMES P. BRIDGES

James P. Bridges born in 1922 and hailed from Lincoln County, Nebraska. He entered service in North
Platte, Nebraska on December 23rd 1940 with the United States Army National Guard.
He was Killed-in-Action (KIA) on Tuesday, August 1st 1944 while serving with the 134th Infantry
Regiment of the 35th Infantry Division, during World War Two in the vicinity of Torigni Sur Vire,
Normandy, France.
He was 22 years old at the time of his death.

Sergeant James P. Bridges is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Plot: H Row: 17 Grave: 3
HISTORY OF THE 134TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 35TH INFANTRY DIVISION

The  134th Infantry Regiment arrived in France on July 5th 1944. During the period of July 5th through
July 7th, the Regiment was assembled near Mercey, France for the purpose of organization and
preparation for combat. On July 8th 1944 the 2nd Battalion was placed in XIX Corps reserve and moved
to a point southwest of Carentan to relieve the 2nd Battalion of the 120th Infantry Regiment. On July 9th
1944 the Regiment was placed in XIX Corps reserve and remained in that assignment until July 13th 1944
when it was ordered to relieve the 115th Infantry Regiment north of St. Lo, France. This relief was
accomplished on July 14th 1944.

On July 15th 1944 the Regiment launched an attack on the south with Hill 122 as the initial objective and
St. Lo as the final objective. The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Regiment were used as assault battalions
and succeeded in advancing several thousand yards during the day. The town of Emilie was captured
late in the afternoon and elements of the Regiment succeeded in reaching Hill 122 after forcing the
enemy to withdraw. On July 19th 1944 the regiment was ordered to occupy and defend a line running
generally east and west from St Georges Montcoco to La Rocque. The 1st Battalion advanced into and
occupied the city of St. Lo. The Regiment remained in defense of the city until July 27th 1944 when an
attack was launched to seize the high ground south and west of St. Lo. The attack was made at 1500
and by 2230 the 1st Battalion had seized the Regimental objective. At 2300 July 27th 1944 the 134th
Regiment was assigned to V Corps.

The attack southward was continued on July 28th 1944 through July 31st 1944. The advance was steady
and was met with heavy opposition at all times. By 2400, July 31st 1944, the Regiment had advanced to
within 1,000 yards of Torigini Sur Vire, France and was continuing the attack.

On the morning of August 1st 1944 the Regiment was in position in the vicinity of Torigni Sur Vire facing
south and in contact with the enemy. An advance southward was begun at 0830 and continued
throughout the day. The Regimental objective was the Vire River.
Sergeant James P. Bridges 20722116 who was killed in action on August 1st 1944.
On August 2nd 1944 the Vire River was crossed.

TOTAL'S FOR THE MONTH OF JULY AND AUGUST 1944 FOR THE 134TH INFANTRY REGIMENT
Killed in Action: July - 184, August - 87
Wounded in Action: July - 949, August - 401
Missing in Action: July - 147, August - 67
Enemy Prisoners of War Taken: July - 202, August - 1896

Information derived from: Report of Action Against The Enemy, Headquarters 134th Infantry Regiment, APO 35, July 1944 and August 1944.
Torigni sur Vire, Normandy, France, above map.