Person Page 1

James Russell ("Jim") Billiter, Jr, was born on 28 August 1913 in Columbus, Franklin, Ohio. He and Virginia Louise Reeb were married on 19 April 1941 in Gulfport, Harrison Co, Mississippi. He died on 1 September 1965, at age 52, in Dayton, Montgomery Co, Ohio. He was buried on 4 September 1965 in St Joseph's Cem, Lockbourne, Franklin Co, Ohio.

James Russell ("Jim") Billiter, Jr, held the title Jr. Buried at St. Joseph's Cemetery, south of Columbus on Rt. 23 near Shadeville, OH. Jim was a deathbed convert to Catholicism, at the instigation of his wife, so that he could be buried in a Catholic cemetery. Cause of death: colorectal cancer. His wife, Virginia Reeb Billiter Butler, was later buried next to Jim's grave in 1993.

James Russell Billiter Jr (Jim) fought in the Pacific theater in WWII in Ohio's 37th Army Division. He was thereafter a highly-regarded employee at the Franklin Co, OH courts until his early death in 1965 from cancer. (Courtesy JHB)

Jim was drafted into the 37th Division and reported for duty at Fort Hayes (Columbus), Ohio on 21 January 1941. He was honorably discharged as a SSGT from Hq Co, 443rd Chemical Mortar Bn, Camp Hood, Texas on 24 September 1945. Service number: 35 000 907.

Anecdote by Jim's son, James Harold Billiter follows:
"I recall little about Dad's few mentions of his war experiences in World War II, since he rarely discussed them, and also because I was fairly young at the time (a 'war baby', as one Catholic priest later ridiculed me during private monolog).
"Dad was in the 37th Ohio (Buckeye) Infantry Division during WWII, and he was promoted to a middle ranking non-commissioned officer in the Pacific theater. Dad once mentioned 'Hellazapopin Ridge' or perhaps "Hill' to me.
"My mother, Virginia Reeb, told me in the 1950's that Dad, shortly after he returned from fighting the Japanese, would sometimes jump from their bed in the middle of the night and try to hide (protect?) himself under it when the noise from an overflying airplane would awaken him."

Jim was assigned to the 37th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, Mechanized, 37 Infantry Division in WWII --
[See FM 2-20 and TO&E 2-27.] The troop's ops and org records for WWII are in box 536 of US Army: Unit
Records 1917-1950 at the Eisenhower Library, Abilene, Kansas.

Harry Yeide's "Steeds of Steel" (Zenith Press, 2008) cites three works pertaining directly to the troop:
1) "History, 37th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop"
2) SGT Dick Small's "The Invincible 37th Recon" (Self published, undated)
3) "Journal, 37th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop"

Extract from War Department General Order no. 77, 1944 for award of Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citation to the 37th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop:

"VII__BATTLE HONORS.--1. As authorized by Executive Order No. 9396 (sec. I, Bull. 22, WD, 1943), superseding Executive Order No. 9075 (sec. III, Bull. 11, WD, 1942), citation of the following unit in General-Orders, No. 187, Headquarters 37th Infantry Division, 14 August 1944, as approved by the Commanding General, United States Army forces in the Far East, is confirmed under the provisions of section IV, Circular No. 333, War Department, 1943, in the name of the President of the United States as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction. The citation reads as follows:

"The 37th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, Mechanized, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy at Bougainville, Solomon Islands, during the period 16 November 1943 to 6 April 1944. Originally trained and equipped to perform motorized missions, this unit vigorously adapted itself to the exigencies of jungle warfare. It undertook many long-distance reconnaissance patrols deep into enemy territory, skillfully reconnoitered and accurately mapped more than 270 miles of trails, and gathered intelligence data which contributed materially to subsequent combat operations. The 37th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop spent more than 60 days and nights in enemy country. One patrol trekked 68 miles over mountainous jungle terrain. Contacts with the enemy were numerous, but the 37th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop exhibited high combat efficiency by uniformly inflicting severe losses on the enemy while sustaining only minimal casualties. The 37th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop displayed its versatility during the attacks of the Japanese on the American perimeter in March 1944, when it functioned as an Infantry company. Its assignments were many: Two platoons executed a counterattack over a steep 50-foot slope, and defended the regained positions against bitter enemy attacks; one platoon efficiently manned front-line positions; and the armored vehicle section evacuated wounded and maintained supplies over a route exposed to constant enemy fire. Despite a casualty rate of 51 percent during this perimeter defense action, the 37th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop successfully completed every mission. The service of this unit has been a brilliant example of collective resourcefulness, energy, capacity, and fidelity to duty."
Courtesy JHB.

Virginia Louise Reeb was born on 28 February 1918 in Columbus, Franklin Co, Ohio. She and James Russell ("Jim") Billiter, Jr, were married on 19 April 1941 in Gulfport, Harrison Co, Mississippi. She was married on 1 July 1966 in Columbus, Franklin, Ohio. She died on 1 March 1993, at age 75, in Reynoldsburg, Franklin Co, Ohio. She was buried on 4 March 1993 in St Joseph's Cem, Lockbourne, Franklin Co, Ohio.

Buried in the St Pius section of St. Joseph's cemetery on Rt. 23 south of
Columbus. James Russell Billiter, Jr's grave is adjacent.

1920 cenusus Columbus, Franklin, Ohio age 1 10/12.

Carrie Lynn Billiter was born on 21 December 1973 in Columbus, Franklin Co, Ohio. She died on 2 December 2009, at age 35, in Columbus, Ohio. She was buried in St Joseph's Cem, Lockbourne, Franklin Co, Ohio.