John Henry Cuthbertson 34609003

Born in Union County on October 12, 1923 John Henry Cuthbertson was the son of Zeb Cuthbertson and Helen Williams Cuthbertson.

Assigned to Company F of the 37th Infantry Regiment, he was killed by an enemy sniper in Velmede, Germany on April 10, 1945 and buried in an Americn cemetery in Margraten, Holland. His organization had the mission of clearing the enemy from the town of Velmede, Germany. John had gone into a house in this town, and had started to the second floor of the building by way of the stairway. There he was to observe enemy operations on the super highway and radio information to his company. On his way up the stairs it was necessary that he pass an open window. Just as he was passing this window he was killed instantly by a shot fired by an enemy sniper.

On June 3, 1945 at four o’clock a memorial service was held for him in the Wingate Baptist Church. Participating in the service were the Reverend David K. Shelton, pastor of the Wingate Baptist Church, Dr. C. C. Burris, President of the Wingate Junior College. The choir of Wingate Junior College rendered several numbers, favorites of John. These included "Dear Land of Home" by Sibelius, Bach’s "Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring" and Molette’s the Lord’s Prayer".

On December 15, 1948 his body was returned to the States and enterred in the family plot at the Wingate Cemetery. Grave-services featured chimes of Wingate Baptist Church plus scripture and prayer by Dr. Burris and Rev. Jack Aiken.

John was inducted at Camp Jackson on March 9th, 1943. From there he went to Camp Lee in Virginia where he served with the Quartermaster Corps. Then he became a member of the Army Specialized Training Program and for nine months was a student at the historic college of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. When the William and Mary ASTP Unit dissolved in March of 1944, he was placed with the 378th Infantry Division and went overseas in August.

Wounded in action in France on November, 1944, he received the Purple Heart for gallantry in action. After four months of recuperation ina hospital in England, he rejoined his division the last of February

Following his death John’s superior officer wrote this to his parents:

"Your son was a capable soldier. Both the officers and men in his orgaanization testify to the excellency of his character and the position which he held in his company was one of leadership and responsibility. He carried out his duties with efficiency".

Attending the Wingate High School, he was an honor graduate with the class of 1940. He received the Best All Around Student Medal. He was active in dramatics, glee club and other school activities. During his high school career he was awarded several medals which testify to his leadership. In his senior year he was President of the Senior Class.

In June 1942 he was graduated from Wingate Junior College as Valedictorian of his class. He was President of the student body, editor in chief of the college newspaper and President of on of the Societies.

In September, 1943, he entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at the time of induction was an honor student in the University School of Commerce.

John was unmarried. In addition to his parents he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Giles Wesley Vick, Jr. and Mre Eugene Crowell Myers as well as his maternal grandmother, Mrs. John Herron Williams. He was a member of the Wingate Baptist Church.

Return to The Gold Star Mothers Homepage

Every effort was made by the staff of the Union County Public Library to keep the integrity of the original scrapbook. Spelling and grammar were NOT altered from their original form. Layout was altered to accommodate the Internet format.