James Norton Waugh was born November 25, 1924 in Sago, Upshur County, West Virginia to Lloyd Lee Waugh and Leda Marie Kiddy. James was the first child born to the Waugh family, although he would be joined by sisters Jean and Carolyn. James's father, Lloyd, was a Sergeant with the West Virginia Department of Public Safety (now the West Virginia State Police).
James attended the Braxton County public schools, and he graduated from Sutton High School with the class of 1943. James enlisted with the United States Naval Reserve while he was still a student at Sutton High School. Upon graduation, James was transferred to active duty with the United States Navy and sent overseas to the European Theater.
James participation in Exercise Tiger was as a Seaman First Class on an American LST (Landing Ship, Tank). It was while he was working on this landing barge that he was killed in action on April 28, 1944. James was buried in Plot C, Row 5, Grave 56 at the Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridge, England.
In recognition of his honorable service in World War II, and for his ultimate sacrifice, James Norton Waugh's was one of the original names inscribed on the West Virginia Veteran's Memorial. James is also honored on the World War II memorial online registry by his sister Jean Harris and his stepmother Lucy F. Waugh.
West Virginians in Exercise Tiger
West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database
West Virginia Archives and History