Pvt. James (Skeet) Kilgore

Our Hometown Heroes

Pvt. James (Skeet) Kilgore

Killed at Battle of Iwo Jima

Private James L. (Skeet) Kilgore was only 18 years old when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps to fight in World War II. Graduating from Spalding High School in 1943, Kilgore immediately joined the Marines.

“Skeet” and his family lived at 430 Bell Street in Griffin. He was born in 1926. Father, Cada T. was a barber. His mother, Maggie, two sisters and a brother all lived in the small home.

Kilgore had been in the Marines for only eight months when he was killed in the invasion of Iwo Jima, March 4, 1944. Kilgore is buried in Japan.

The younger brother, C.T. Kilgore, Jr. was stationed in India with the Quartermasters Corps when “Skeet” was killed.
Little else is known about the Hometown Hero.