James Warren Toffton

Rocky Mount - James "Jimmie" Warren Toffton, Sr., 91, passed away August 3, 2015. He was born September 11, 1923 in Norfolk, VA, son of the late John Edward Toffton and Ida Mae Whealton Toffton. He was preceded in death by his wife Ellen Lee Childers Toffton. Jimmie and Ellen were married February 23, 1946. Together they raised three children and built a wonderful life for their family. She was his strength, partner and best friend. They were married for 64 years. Jimmie worked for Stallings Oil Company until he retired. Jimmie was sent to Camp Miami Beach in Florida. After completion of boot camp he was assigned to the 9th Army Air Force Infantry, 555th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion, Company C. Jimmie and his unit trained at Drew Field in Florida, practicing many maneuvers before being sent to Camp Myles Standish near Taunton, Mass., to be processed for overseas shipment. Departure was December, 1943 with arrival at the Army Signal Camp, Pepham, England. In May 1944, the 555th was moved to a Staging Area near Plymouth, England. On June 6, 1944 along the heavily fortified, Nazi-occupied coastline of France-Jimmie participated in D-Day, the Allied Invasion of Normandy. As part of the largest amphibious invasion in world history, Jimmie and his unit landed at Omaha Beach during the first wave of the invasion. As a forward observer, Jimmie's job was to observe and report on the movement of German troops and machinery, information that then was relayed to U.S. fighter pilots. The fighting was intensely brutal, and by 5:30 p.m., the troops had advanced only about 700 meters. Jimmie, 20 at the time, saw many young men give their lives for their country that day. Jimmie's job as a forward ground observer, he spent much of his time operating on and behind enemy lines. But surviving D-Day was just the beginning. On June 17, 1944, while on a reconnaissance mission behind front lines in the vicinity of ST. GERMAIN DE PERT FRANCE, Jimmie was reported as missing in action along with Lt. James Raibley, Jr., Donnelly Edwards and Roy McClure. Jimmie, along with his small group, was ambushed by the Germans. Lt. James Raibley took a direct hit from a 37mm killing him and PFC. Donnelly instantly and knocking Jimmie and Roy to the ground. Recovering from the blast and under heavy machine gun and small arms fire Jimmie finds Lt. Raibley and PFC. Donnelly dead and McClure unconscious. Jimmie carries McClure to cover in the hedgerows. After three days of avoiding German patrols with one skirmish pushing them deeper behind enemy lines, now left them tired, hungry and no ammunition left, Jimmie still nursing shrapnel and bullet wound receive during the first attack, they find a small apple tree were they feast on unripe green apples. There they disassemble their weapons to make them useless since death or capture seemed imminent. June 21, 1944, Jimmie and Roy are captured near Saint - Lo, France. After capture Jimmie and Roy are sent first to an interrogation camp, where they suffered harsh interrogations, Jimmie continued his journey through France and Germany by his captors from one transit/interrogation camp to another with a stopover of a few weeks in the concentration camp known as Dachau. Jimmie was haunted of the atrocities he witnessed till his death. From there he was taken to Nuremberg where he was put on a train to Berlin from there he was transported again by train to Barth, Germany. Jimmie spent the rest of the war as a POW in Stalag Luft I until liberated by the Russians May 1, 1945. Jimmie was presented the Legion of Honor, the highest decoration in France, during a ceremony February 20, 2014 at the State Capitol in Raleigh, NC. The ceremony featured Gov. Pat McCrory and French Consul General Denis Barbet. In 1948, Jimmie was assigned to Joint Task Force 7 (Operation Sandstone) a three-detonation atmospheric nuclear weapon test series conducted during the spring of 1948 at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. He leaves behind to cherish his memory, two sons, James Warren Toffton, Jr., his wife Sue of Rocky Mount and Ricky Lee Toffton of Newport News, VA, 8 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. A graveside service to remember Jimmie will be at 2:00 pm Wednesday, August 5, 2015 in the Rocky Mount Memorial Park Chapel of Memories Mausoleum with Rev. Alvin R. Davis officiating. Visitation will the family will follow the service and other times at the home. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com. Service Rocky Mount Memorial Park 4454 Dortches Blvd., Hwy 43 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Wednesday 8/5, 2:00 pm Cemetery Rocky Mount Memorial Park 4454 Dortches Blvd., Hwy 43 Rocky Mount, NC 27804