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Navy Federal Credit Union
James
Baxter
Turner
1886-04-15

–

1952-06-27

Born:

Bayboro

, 

North Carolina

Home:

Bayboro

, 

North Carolina

Buried: 

Raleigh

, 

North Carolina

Cemetery:

Montlawn Memorial Park

James Turner received his B.A. from Wake Forest College in 1907, and his LL.B. degree in 1911. He studied at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, receiving his ThD in 1906. Ordained a Baptist minister, after an 18-month pastorate in Beaufort, South Carolina, in 1917 he joined his brother in the work of the Y.M.C.A., going overseas with that organization in December 1917. In May 1918 he left the Y.M.C.A. and accepted a commission as a chaplain in the U.S. Army, serving throughout World War I. After the war he returned to Wake Forest as Alumni Secretary, and then accepted a pastorate in Greenville, South Carolina. He spent 20 years in pastorates in Georgia and North Carolina until his retirement on May 31, 1952.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    120th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    September 29, 1918
    GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 5 (June 3, 1919)

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) James Baxter Turner, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain Turner distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 2d Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action near Bellicourt, France, 29 September 1918, in aiding the wounded under enemy fire.