J.R. McIlroy Collection

James R. McIlroy was born in Hillsboro, Texas. In 1943, he became part of the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) at East Texas State Teachers College. This program was shut down in February of 1944, and the young men in the program were sent to Camp Maxey outside of Paris, Texas for rifle training. On 10 September 1944, McIlroy was sent to Camp Miles Standish where he joined the 99th Infantry Division and received combat training. He was then shipped overseas, first to England, then to France, where he and his regiment settled into foxholes near Aubel, Belgium. McIlroy went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge, with the title of Sergeant, where he was injured. Along with his injuries from battle, McIlroy suffered from gangrene and pneumonia. After seven months in Army hospitals, McIlroy was discharged in September of 1945, earning both a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Years later, McIlroy became a very active member of the 99th Infantry Division Association. He served as President of the Association from 1989-1990, the treasurer for many years, he was on many reunion and mini-reunion planning committees as chairman and co-chairman, and he was often an article contributor to the association's newspaper The Checkerboard.